Experimental and mathematically modelled temperature characteristics of human knee joint meniscus during radiofrequency resection

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates radiofrequency (RF) plasma temperatures around the active electrode of a bipolar arthroscopic RF resector and human knee meniscus tissue temperatures during RF resection. Knee arthroscopy uses various high-frequency (HF) electrodes. However, the electrodes’ configuration leads to the destruction of too much volume and damage to non-target tissue of the knee joint meniscus, potentially leading to repeated damage to the meniscus and post-traumatic arthrosis. Therefore, knowing the optimal parameters for RF meniscus resection, such as resection temperature, mechanical stress on tissues, and process duration, is important. This study experimentally determined the temperature characteristics of RF meniscus resection using a bipolar RF arthroscopic resector and compared the results with a mathematical model of RF meniscus resection compiled in the COMSOL environment. Discrepancies between modelling and experimental research were obtained that determine the optimal temperature parameters for HF resection of the knee joint meniscus: HF plasma temperature, meniscus heating temperature during RF resection using a resector in a conductive fluid, and meniscus heating temperature when using analogues in a conductive fluid.