Premium
Effect of Transection of the Caudal Menisco‐Tibial Ligament on Medial Femorotibial Contact Mechanics
Author(s) -
Pozzi Antonio,
Kim Stanley E.,
Lewis Daniel D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2010.00662.x
Subject(s) - cadaveric spasm , medicine , anatomy , cruciate ligament , medial meniscus , ligament , biomechanics , anterior cruciate ligament , osteoarthritis , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective: To evaluate the effect of transection of the medial caudal menisco‐tibial ligament on contact mechanics in a canine cadaveric model of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Study Design: Ex vivo biomechanical study. Sample Population: Unpaired pelvic limbs (n=8) from 28–35 kg dogs. Methods: Cadaveric pelvic limbs with CCL‐deficient stifles stabilized with TPLO were axially loaded using a material testing machine with 30% body weight and a stifle angle of 135°. Medial compartment femorotibial contact force and area, peak and mean contact pressure, and peak pressure location were measured with pressure sensors. A paired t‐test was used for comparison; P <.05 was considered significant. Results: Transection of the caudal menisco‐tibial ligament resulted in a significant decrease in contact area, from 145 ± 24 to 71 ± 25 mm 2 ( P <.001) and a significant increase in peak pressure magnitude from 2.9 ± 0.4 to 4.1 ± 0.5 MPa ( P <.001). Transection of the caudal menisco‐tibial ligament caused a significant increase in load in the caudal portion of the medial compartment ( P <.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that transecting the caudal menisco‐tibial ligament eliminates the load bearing function of the medial meniscus and results in significant changes in medial femorotibial contact mechanics. Clinical Relevance: The abnormal cartilage contact stresses after transection of the caudal menisco‐tibial ligament may have a negative impact on the cartilage homeostasis and predispose to further degeneration of the medial compartment after TPLO.