EFFECTS OF 2-TUNNEL AND 3-TUNNEL FIXATION ON BIOMECHANICS OF TIBIOFEMORAL JOINT

Based on MR images of normal human knee at four flexion angles(0?, 25?, 60?, 80?), we built 3D finite element models of the normal tibiofemoral joint and two medial meniscus transplantation models (2-tunnel fixation and 3-tunnel fixation). Two kinds of loads (a single compressive load, the combined loads of compressive load and internal rotation torque) were applied to models in the finite element simulation, and the stress and displacement distribution were extracted from all models. We compared the von-Mises equivalent stress of articular cartilage and meniscus and the displacement of meniscus in transplantation models with those in the normal model, respectively. We concluded that the 3-tunnel fixation was superior to 2-tunnel fixation, and 3-tunnel fixation can restore the tibiofemoral joint function better.