Role of the menisci in the distribution of stress in the knee.

Photoelastic studies were performed to compare the effects of meniscectomy, longitudinal meniscal tear, and retention of the meniscal rim on the magnitude and distribution of the stresses in the medial compartment of the knee. The results are consistent with the concepts that the meniscus protects the articular cartilage of the knee from stress concentrations and that retention of a torn, undisplaced meniscus or the presence of an outer meniscal rim are preferable to the absence of the meniscus.