No differences in knee joint loading between individuals who had a medial or lateral meniscectomy: An ancillary study

Starbuck, Chelsea; Walters, Vanessa; Herrington, Lee; Barkatali, Bilal; Jones, Richard

Abstract

Background
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a frequently undertaken procedure for traumatic meniscal injuries. The location of knee joint degeneration and long-term prognosis differs between knees who have had a medial or lateral meniscectomy. However, there is no evidence comparing knee loading following a medial or lateral meniscectomy during sporting tasks. This study compared knee loading during walking and running between individuals who either had a medial or lateral meniscectomy.

Methods
Knee kinematic and kinetic data were collected during walking and running in individuals three to twelve months post-surgery. Participants were grouped according to the location of surgery (medial, n = 12, and lateral, n = 16). An independent t-test compared knee biomechanics between the groups and Hedge’s g effects sizes were also conducted.

Results
External knee adduction and knee flexion moments were similar between groups for walking and running with negligible to small effect sizes (effect size, 0.08–0.30). Kinematic (effect size, 0.03–0.22) and spatiotemporal (effect size, 0.02–0.59) outcomes were also similar between the groups.

Conclusions
The lack of differences in surrogate knee loading variables between medial and lateral meniscectomy groups was unexpected. These findings suggest that combining groups in the short-term period following surgery is applicable. However, the data presented in this study cannot explain the differences in long-term prognosis between medial and lateral meniscectomies.

Citation

Starbuck, C., Walters, V., Herrington, L., Barkatali, B., & Jones, R. (2023). No differences in knee joint loading between individuals who had a medial or lateral meniscectomy: An ancillary study. The Knee, 42, 304-311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2023.04.013

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 11, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 2, 2023
• Publication Date: May 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 12, 2023
• Journal: The Knee
• Print ISSN: 0968-0160
• Electronic ISSN: 0968-0160
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Pages: 304-311
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2023.04.013
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knee.2023.04.013