The Effect of Meniscal Tears on Knee Biomechanics: a Finite Element Analysis Investigation

Meniscal tears may adversely impair knee function and biomechanics, with effects varying based on tear type and location. There are several methods for studying meniscal injuries, including human cadavers, and computational models, such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Previous studies have used the FEA technique to examine the effects of artificially replicating meniscal tears. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of meniscal injury on knee biomechanics, by means of FEA, starting with real meniscal tears. Based on Magnetic Resonance (MR) images of 12 patients, 3D models of the distal femur, proximal tibia, cartilage, and menisci were obtained for each patient through the segmentation process. A preprocessing phase was then necessary to prepare the models for FEA. Finally, simulations were conducted to study the effects of lesions on stress, contact pressure, and meniscal extrusion. The simulation results showed that meniscal lesions, especially radial tears, increase the pressure between menisci and tibial cartilage, increase the maximum shear stress on menisci, and lead to meniscal extrusion. The integration of FEA with clinical data may provide surgeons with detailed insight, enabling them to decide whether surgical intervention is necessary.