Closed Joint Traumatic Impaction and Its Influence on Meniscal Cell Viability

Traumatic impaction is known to cause acute cell death and macroscopic damage to cartilage and menisci in vitro^1,2,3. It is understood that damage to the menisci can lead to chronic problems associated with excessive cartilage wear and the eventual onset of osteoarthritis (OA)⁴. Additionally, cartilage fissuring, subchondral bone bruising, and chondrocyte death are also believed to lead to the rapid progression of joint degeneration⁵. Such injuries, along with posterolateral meniscal tearing, are often observed after traumatic impaction and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture^6–9. Therefore, understanding how the menisci and cartilage respond acutely to impaction may help guide future therapies following traumatic knee injury in order to prevent the development of OA.