Anglia Ruskin University

PhD research student: Mr Diagarajen Carpanen.
Supervisory team: Dr Rajshree Mootanah (ARU), Dr Rob Walker (ARU), Professor Kevin Cheah (MEHT), Dr Howard Hillstrom (HSS)
Funding body: The Higher Education Funding Council for England

Acute meniscal tears occur in up to one third of all sports injuries (UKhealthcare website) while degenerative meniscal tears present in 60% of patients older than 65 years (Arendt, 1999). A meniscal tear is likely to increase knee joint contact pressure and the risk of developing early osteoarthritis (OA), which affects 8.5 million Britons at a cost of £39 billion to the NHS. The most common surgical treatment for meniscal tear is partial meniscectomy, although it is generally believed that loss of meniscal tissue leads to osteoarthritis and poor knee function. The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the relationship between partial meniscectomy with changes to the corresponding knee joint contact stresses by finite element method. The results of this study are anticipated to help improve surgical outcomes of partial meniscectomy and, ultimately, reduce the risk of early OA.

References:

• http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/ortho/fact_sheets/meniscus_tear.htm, 2010.
• Arendt EA, ed. Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Sports Medicine 2. Rosemont, Ill: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 1999.