Open AccessA cadaveric analysis of contact stress restoration after osteochondral transplantation of a cylindrical cartilage defect
Author(s) -
Kock Niels B.,
Smolders José M. H.,
Susante Job L. C.,
Buma Pieter,
Kampen Albert,
Verdonschot Nico
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.806
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1433-7347
pISSN - 0942-2056
DOI - 10.1007/s00167-008-0494-1
Subject(s) - cadaveric spasm , cartilage , transplantation , medicine , articular cartilage , osteoarthritis , condyle , weight bearing , cartilage damage , cadaver , surgery , orthodontics , anatomy , pathology , alternative medicine
Osteochondral transplantation is a successful treatment for full‐thickness cartilage defects, which without treatment would lead to early osteoarthritis. Restoration of surface congruency and stability of the reconstruction may be jeopardized by early mobilization. To investigate the biomechanical effectiveness of osteochondral transplantation, we performed a standardized osteochondral transplantation in eight intact human cadaver knees, using three cylindrical plugs on a full‐thickness cartilage defect, bottomed on one condyle, unbottomed on the contralateral condyle. Surface pressure measurements with Tekscan pressure transducers were performed after five conditions. In the presence of a defect the border contact pressure of the articular cartilage defect significantly increased to 192% as compared to the initially intact joint surface. This was partially restored with osteochondral transplantation (mosaicplasty), as the rim stress subsequently decreased to 135% of the preoperative value. Following weight bearing motion two out of eight unbottomed mosaicplasties showed subsidence of the plugs according to Tekscan measurements. This study demonstrates that a three‐plug mosaicplasty is effective in restoring the increased border contact pressure of a cartilage defect, which may postpone the development of early osteoarthritis. Unbottomed mosaicplasties may be more susceptible for subsidence below flush level after (unintended) weight bearing motion.