Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis

Meniscus horizontal tear is a common injury that mostly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, and the effect of repair surgery directly affects the functional recovery of the knee joint and prevention of degenerative joint diseases. However, the stress concentration in a horizontal tear is not w...

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Main Authors: Bingtong Yan, Minmin Lin, Yang Liu, Jiawei Li, Linjing Peng, Yifei Yao, Guangheng Li, Chao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Mechanobiology in Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949907025000166
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author Bingtong Yan
Minmin Lin
Yang Liu
Jiawei Li
Linjing Peng
Yifei Yao
Guangheng Li
Chao Liu
author_facet Bingtong Yan
Minmin Lin
Yang Liu
Jiawei Li
Linjing Peng
Yifei Yao
Guangheng Li
Chao Liu
author_sort Bingtong Yan
collection DOAJ
description Meniscus horizontal tear is a common injury that mostly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, and the effect of repair surgery directly affects the functional recovery of the knee joint and prevention of degenerative joint diseases. However, the stress concentration in a horizontal tear is not well understood. The primary objective of this study was to examine the reparative mechanisms involved in addressing horizontal tears of the meniscus and to elucidate the alterations in mechanical behavior throughout the subsequent postoperative healing stages. Based on clinical MRI scan data of normal human knee joint, an accurate three-dimensional finite element model of the knee joint was established to simulate the meniscus at different states: including complete, horizontal torn, repaired and at different degrees of healing. An animal model was established to conduct in vitro loading experiments to assist in validating the model. Static standing simulation revealed the phenomenon of stress concentration in the area of horizontal tears. Knee flexion simulations identified the risk of tear propagation at the endpoints of the horizontal tear. Following suture repair and progressive healing, stress concentration was observed at the site of sutures, while the stress levels decreased at the endpoints of the horizontal tear. As healing progressed, the mechanical function of the meniscus gradually recovered. During progressive healing, the changing trends can provide a reference for patients' postoperative recovery activities. This finding has important implications for guiding clinical treatment strategies and rehabilitation plans for meniscal tears.
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issn 2949-9070
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Mechanobiology in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-8961233f04834c288de4b2d5e14f0a9e2025-08-20T02:35:48ZengElsevierMechanobiology in Medicine2949-90702025-06-013210012810.1016/j.mbm.2025.100128Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysisBingtong Yan0Minmin Lin1Yang Liu2Jiawei Li3Linjing Peng4Yifei Yao5Guangheng Li6Chao Liu7Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, PR ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, PR ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, PR ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, PR ChinaMed-X Research Institute, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, ChinaMed-X Research Institute, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, ChinaDivision of Adult Joint Reconstruction and Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Tissue Reconstruction and Function Restoration, Shenzhen People's Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University), Shenzhen, China; Corresponding author.Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China; Corresponding author. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.Meniscus horizontal tear is a common injury that mostly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, and the effect of repair surgery directly affects the functional recovery of the knee joint and prevention of degenerative joint diseases. However, the stress concentration in a horizontal tear is not well understood. The primary objective of this study was to examine the reparative mechanisms involved in addressing horizontal tears of the meniscus and to elucidate the alterations in mechanical behavior throughout the subsequent postoperative healing stages. Based on clinical MRI scan data of normal human knee joint, an accurate three-dimensional finite element model of the knee joint was established to simulate the meniscus at different states: including complete, horizontal torn, repaired and at different degrees of healing. An animal model was established to conduct in vitro loading experiments to assist in validating the model. Static standing simulation revealed the phenomenon of stress concentration in the area of horizontal tears. Knee flexion simulations identified the risk of tear propagation at the endpoints of the horizontal tear. Following suture repair and progressive healing, stress concentration was observed at the site of sutures, while the stress levels decreased at the endpoints of the horizontal tear. As healing progressed, the mechanical function of the meniscus gradually recovered. During progressive healing, the changing trends can provide a reference for patients' postoperative recovery activities. This finding has important implications for guiding clinical treatment strategies and rehabilitation plans for meniscal tears.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949907025000166BiomechanicsFinite element analysisMeniscus horizontal tearKnee joint
spellingShingle Bingtong Yan
Minmin Lin
Yang Liu
Jiawei Li
Linjing Peng
Yifei Yao
Guangheng Li
Chao Liu
Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
Mechanobiology in Medicine
Biomechanics
Finite element analysis
Meniscus horizontal tear
Knee joint
title Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
title_full Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
title_fullStr Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
title_full_unstemmed Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
title_short Biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion: Finite element analysis
title_sort biomechanics of horizontal meniscus tear and healing during knee flexion finite element analysis
topic Biomechanics
Finite element analysis
Meniscus horizontal tear
Knee joint
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949907025000166
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