In vivo kinematics of knee joint cartilage and meniscus contact areas under load application: a biomechanical MRI study

This study defines the in vivo healthy baseline of knee contact mechanics. The results demonstrate that under physiological load, the healthy meniscus undergoes controlled radial displacement to facilitate direct cartilage contact. Crucially, the stability of the tibial contact area supports the hypothesis that the meniscotibial (coronary) ligament acts as a primary anchor, preventing excessive extrusion at the tibial interface. These data serve as a vital benchmark for evaluating meniscus repair techniques and differentiating physiological mobility from pathological failure.