| Objective. Determine if there is a change in intrinsic compressive properties of meniscal allograft tissue after undergoing four freeze-thaw cycles as compared to tissue undergoing a single freeze-thaw cycle, and offer an explanation for any change through histological review and biochemical analysis.; Design. Controlled Laboratory Study.; Results. Menisci that underwent multiple freeze-thaw cycles demonstrated a mean Young's Modulus of 10 megapascals. In comparison, this was significantly less than the mean Young's Modulus of the tissue that underwent a single-freeze thaw cycle, 14 megapascals (p = 0.03). Separately medial and lateral meniscal tissue of the multiple freeze-thaw group also demonstrated a statistically significant lower Young's Modulus as compared to the single freeze-thaw menisci (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively).; Histological and biochemical analysis provided no explanation for this change in compressive properties.; Conclusion. Freezing and thawing meniscal allograft tissue four times has a significant negative impact on the intrinsic compressive properties of the meniscus. |
