The Tibiofemoral Joint Gaps - An Arthroscopic Study

Mahmoud Jabalameli, Mostafa Rostami, Mohamad Parnianpour

Feras Hakkak, The Tibiofemoral Joint Gaps - An Arthroscopic Study(2015)SDRP Journal Of Biomedical Engineering 1(1)

The articular surfaces of the tibiofemoral joint commonly appear to have gaps in between during arthroscopy operations. However, the same joint surfaces appear to be in contact in MR images. This discrepancy may be attributed to the pressure of the saline injected into the joint during arthroscopy operations, insertion of cannulas, or anesthesia and the resulting absence of compressive force on the joint. This study examines the effect of these factors. Seven candidates of knee arthroscopy surgery participated in the study. The tibiofemoral joint space was observed with the arthroscope in different knee and hip flexion angles, with and without saline pressure, and with and without external compressive loads. In the totally extended knee position, the joint was closed on both the lateral and medial sides. In the flexed knee positions, some of the joints showed a gap in either medial or lateral sides or both. Removing saline pressure and applying external compressive force on the knees did not affect the gaps. As this phenomenon cannot be explained with the conventional joint biomechanics, there is a need to revise the biomechanics of the knee joint, probably with the aid of the concepts laid in the theory of biotensegrity.

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