Discussion
knee flexion [A
The most important finding of this biomechanical in vitro study is that the ST meniscus autograft was able to significantly improve both the joint kinematics and the tibiofemoral contact parameters after LMM. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study investigating the kinematic knee joint changes and the impact on lateral tibiofemoral contact mechanics after total LMM and total meniscus replacement by a single-bundle GT and doubled ST autografts, which were surgically applied in the manner of a meniscus allograft transplant. The most important kinematic finding of the present study was that the LMM-induced rotational instability of the knee joint which was seen during the application of no external moments and during the application of 1 Nm valgus could be restored by the application of the doubled ST meniscus autograft, whereas application of the GT autograft indicated only a positive trend. With respect to the detrimental impact of the LMM on the lateral tibiofemoral contact mechanics, again, the ST autograft was able to restore the CPIn addition to the ACL, the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus is a main rotation stabiliser of the knee joint, particularly during deep knee flexion [A recent review on the impact of different test setups and meniscal states on the tibiofemoral contact pressure indicated a major impact of the applied axial load on the CPRepresentative peak contact pressure (CPSeveral limitations must be considered when interpreting the results of the present study. First, the inherent in vitro study design only reflects time zero evaluations and cannot account for in vivo changes postoperatively after an autograft implantation procedure. On the basis of recent clinical results utilising the same autografting procedure [In the context of clinical applicability, the present biomechanical results need to be interpreted with care, because both, remodelling and failure mechanisms cannot be investigated by such an in vitro study. However, small animal [