Meniscus replacement: Influence of geometrical mismatches on chondroprotective capabilities

Simulations showed that AC's strains strongly depended on implant size and loading duration. They depended less on the stiffness of the implant material. With an oversized implant, collagen strains were particularly large in the femoral AC initially and further increased upon sustained loading. The severest compressive strains occurred after sustained loading in the meniscectomized joint. Strains with an undersized meniscus were comparable to a perfectly sized implant. In conclusion, these results support the hypothesis that an undersized implant may outperform an oversized one because it distributes stresses better in the most intensely loaded joint area.