Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics and Medial Menniscal Strain After Serial Meniscectomies in The Dog Stifle

Medial meniscus pathology is a common cause of joint pain in people and animals. A more conservative approach than total meniscectomy has been advised to minimize degenerative changes following meniscal treatment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of defined partial meniscectomies of the caudal pole of the medial meniscus and hemi-meniscectomy on the contact mechanics and the meniscal strain. Materials and Methods: Peak contact pressures (PCP) of medial and later compartments were recorded using a piezo-resistive pressure sensing system and meniscal strain was measured using 6-mm strain transducers. Results: For the medial compartment we measured 14.103 % increase in PCP after partial meniscectomy in the white zone (PM1), 75.275% increase after partial meniscectomy in the red zone (PM2), and 104.793% increase after hemimeniscectomy (CPH). Significant difference was detected between a) PM1 and PM2, b) PM1 and CPH. Meniscal strain decreased after the meniscal tissue was removed in PM1 and PM2. Discussion/Conclusion: We found that a more conservative approach to meniscal resection is beneficial for conserving meniscal function. Based on these results, alternative approaches such as meniscal repair or conservative treatment may be considered for peripheral tears that would require extensive partial meniscectomy. Partial meniscectomy for tears in the white-white zone has minimal effect on contact mechanics and therefore should be considered a tissue and function-sparing technique