Cartilage Damage in the Unstable Knee is Related to Tibio-Femoral Contact Mechanics

Joint instability may lead to modified and excessive mechanical stresses on the articular surfaces. This repetitive, chronic mechanical overload is one possible source behind the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the mechanisms by which excessive mechanical force may lead to OA remain unknown. It has been proposed that a change in the location of load bearing regions following joint instability may initiate OA, while the progression of OA is driven by increased tangential shear loading [1]. In addition to changing the load location, joint instability may modify bone kinematics, and in turn articulating surface interactions (e.g. sliding, pivoting and rolling contacts). These altered surface interactions may result in novel and damaging loading applied to the articular cartilage.