Free-floating medial meniscus implant kinematics do not change after simulation of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy and notchplasty

Purpose The purpose of this in-vitro study was to examine the kinematics of an artificial, free-floating medial meniscus replacement device under dynamic loading situations and different knee joint states. Methods A dynamic knee simulator was used to perform dynamic loading exercises on three neutrally aligned and three 10° valgus aligned (simulating a medial openwedge high tibial osteotomy - MOWHTO) left human cadaveric knee joints. The knee joints were tested in three states (intact, conventional notchplasty, extended notchplasty) while 11 randomised exercises were simulated (jump landing, squatting, tibial rotation and axial ground impacts at 10°, 30° and 60° knee joint flexion) to investigate the knee joint and implant kinematics by means of rigidly attached reflective marker sets and an according motion analysis. Results The maximum implant translation relative to the tibial plateau was