Author: Bc. Aneta Vránová Title: Changes of rheological properties during various degrees of knee flexion Aim of the thesis: To find out if there is a difference in rheological properties in varoius degrees of flexion in the knee with meniscal tear and compare the results with measurement after physical aktivity. To compare changes of the reological properties of patients who have undegone meniscectomy a few years ago with patients with recent meniscectomy. Method: Experimental measurements were done by using the method of biorheometry which detects the passive resistance of the knee in movement from flexion to extension. Patients completed case history and a special questionnaire relevant to clinical changes connected to meniscal tear. Measuring data were evaluated and converted in the form of biorheogramme. We measured 6 persons. At first were done measurements in three different sequences for both lower extremities, the same measurement was repeated after the physical activity (50 squats). Results: We found changes of rheological properties in higher degrees of knee flexion with typical rising followed by fall of biorheogramme around flexion of 80ř. They were more remarkable after physical activity. Changes of rheological properies were more expressive in patients who have undergone meniscectomy...

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura existente, a fim de analisar os resultados após o reparo meniscal na população pediátrica. MÉTODOS: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada de acordo com as diretrizes PRISMA usando os Bancos de Dados de Análise Sistemática Cochrane, Registro Central Cochrane de ensaios controlados, MEDLINE Ovid e MEDLINE PubMed. Os critérios de inclusão foram os seguintes: estudos que relatam os resultados do reparo meniscal em pacientes com 18 anos ou menos, com um seguimento médio mínimo de 12 meses, idiomas português, espanhol ou inglês e estudos humanos incluindo 10 ou mais pacientes. RESULTADOS: Nossa pesquisa identificou 2534 títulos individuais. Após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram incluídos oito estudos, avaliando 287 pacientes com lesões meniscais reparadas. Sete estudos foram classificados como nível de evidência IV e um nível III. O escore médio MINORS foi de 8,6 ± 1,4. O reparo meniscal incluiu todas as zonas meniscais e padrões de lesões. A lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior foi a lesão associada mais comum. As técnicas “inside-out” e “all-inside” foram predominantemente relatadas. A maioria dos pacientes relatou resultados bons a excelentes e teve sinais clínicos de cicatrização meniscal; as meniscectomias após reparação meniscal foram realizadas em apenas 44 casos. CONCLUSÃO: Lesões meniscais em pediatria não são incomuns. O reparo desta lesão foi associado com resultados bons a excelentes na maioria dos pacientes, independentemente do padrão de lesão, zona ou técnica. As complicações relatadas foram mínimas, no entanto, são necessários estudos de maior qualidade para confirmar os achados desta revisão sistemática. NÍVEL DE EVIDÊNCIA: Nivel IV, revisão sistemática de estudos nível III e nível IV. / PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review of existing literature in order to analyze outcomes after meniscal repair in the pediatric population. METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE Ovid, and MEDLINE PubMed databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies reporting the outcomes of meniscal repair in patients 18 years old or younger, with a minimum mean follow-up of 12 months, Portuguese, Spanish or English languages, and human studies including 10 or more patients. RESULTS: Our search identified 2534 individual titles. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 studies were included, evaluating 287 patients with repaired meniscal tears. Seven studies were classified as level of evidence IV and one level III. The mean MINORS score was 8.6 ± 1.4. Meniscal repair included all meniscal zones and tear patterns. Anterior cruciate ligament tear was the most common associated injury. The all-inside and inside-out techniques were predominantly reported. The majority of the patients reported good to excellent outcomes and had clinical signals of meniscal healing; meniscectomies following meniscal repair were performed in just 44 cases. CONCLUSION: Meniscal tears in pediatrics are not uncommon. Repairs of this injury were associated with good to excellent outcomes in most patients, regardless of the injury pattern, zone or technique. Reported complications were minimal, however, higher quality studies are needed to confirm the findings of this systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level III and Level IV studies.

Towards understanding regional meniscus characteristics important for tissue engineering efforts, meniscus cells were characterized biomechanically and an effective method for isolating these cells for tissue engineering was determined. It was found that the meniscus contains cells that are biomechanically distinct, with outer meniscus cells showing higher stiffness than inner cells. It was also determined that meniscus cells as a whole were more biomechanically similar to ligament cells than to articular chondrocytes, indicating that tissue properties may correlate with cellular mechanics. In addition to showing regionally distinct biomechanical properties, enzymatic isolation of meniscus cells was found to cause varying phenotypic changes in cells from the inner, middle, and outer regions. A comparison of isolation techniques also indicated that sequential digestion of meniscus tissue with pronase and collagenase was able to yield more cells with higher viability than other techniques tested, and those isolated cells created stiffer and more glycosaminoglycan (GAG) rich constructs when used in a tissue engineering modality than cells isolated using only collagenase. The identification of an effective mode of isolating meniscus cells is of great use to tissue engineering efforts, as they often require a large cell numbers. These findings illustrate that known regional variations in meniscus cell phenotype and biochemical composition are also evident in cellular mechanics, and phenotypic responses of these cells to isolation are varied and distinct. To be successful tissue replacements, tissue engineered meniscus constructs must not elicit an immune response and must have sufficient mechanical properties to survive when implanted. To determine if allogeneic or xenogeneic implantation of scaffold-free meniscus constructs could be feasible, the immunogenicity of bovine and leporine meniscus cells and articular chondrocytes were determined in an in vitro model system. It was found that neither bovine nor leporine meniscus cells or articular chondrocytes caused activation of leporine immune cells, suggesting that they may serve as allogeneic or xenogeneic cell sources for meniscus engineering. Additional analysis of the mechanical role of meniscus GAGs indicated that they are mechanically important in all regions of the meniscus, but especially in the inner region where the relatively high GAG content affects both compressive and tensile properties. Therefore, tissue engineering efforts should try to recapitulate GAG content and distribution to enhance the functionality of meniscus replacements. As a major obstacle for meniscus engineering is the identification of an abundant cell source, this thesis also investigated the use of skin cells as an alternative to primary cells for tissue engineering. Previously identified chondroinducible dermis cells were found to have multilineage differentiation capacity, and were subsequently termed dermis isolated adult stem cells (DIAS). DIAS cells were also able to be expanded in monolayer without losing chondroinductive capacity, and were able to create constructs with cartilaginous properties which could be varied with growth factor application. Given the ease of expansion and ability of DIAS cells to form fibrocartilaginous tissue, these cells present an abundant cell source for meniscus tissue engineering.

Arthritis includes many conditions of the joints characterized by inflammation, pain, and loss of joint function that affect 66 million people in the U.S. alone. During arthritic degeneration, chondrocytes exhibit downregulated synthesis of extracellular matrix molecules and upregulation of proteolytic enzymes. Fibrochondrocytes, found in meniscal fibrocartilage, appear to behave in a similar way. Metalloproteinases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and a disintegrin and metollproteinase with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTS) class enzymes have demonstrated efficient, distinct aggrecan degradation in models of arthritis. ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 are thought to be primary mediators of pathologic aggrecan catabolism, while MMP-17 may be involved in ADAMTS activation. There is also growing evidence of metalloproteinase-independent mechanisms in aggrecan catabolism. The cysteine endopeptidase m-calpain has been detected in cartilage from arthritic joints, and chondrocytes can secrete this protease. The overall objective of this work was to investigate metalloproteinases and m-calpain as comediators of aggrecan turnover in articular cartilage and meniscal fibrocartilage. The central hypothesis was that metalloproteinases cooperate with m-calpain to mediate cytokine-induced aggrecan turnover and associated changes in tissue mechanics. Experiments involved using inhibitors to perturb protease systems, antibodies targeting aggrecan neoepitopes to characterize enzyme activity, and established methods of evaluating tissue compressive and shear properties. Models of degradation and de novo tissue assembly were used to investigate tissue-specific differences in aggrecan turnover. The results of this work demonstrate tissue-specific differences in the abundance and structure of aggrecan, and indicate that the mechanisms and extent of aggrecan processing in the meniscus is dependent on location within the tissue. The relationships between aggrecan structure and tissue material properties are discussed, along with implications for development, disease, and repair.

Meniscus is a wedge shaped structure, with a convex base attached to a flat tibial surface, and with a concave femoral surface, on which femur and tibia articulate. It has several functions including joint lubrication, shock absorption, load transmission and joint stability. Various methods were tried to treat meniscal tears but each has its own drawbacks. Tissue engineering seems to be a promising solution that avoids all the problems associated with the other approaches. In this study, a three dimensional (3D) collagen-based structure was prepared by tissue engineering to mimic the natural human meniscus. Three different foams prepared under different conditions were combined and nano/microfibrous layers were placed in between them. To mimic the properties of the natural tissue, the top layer was composed of collagen-chondroitin sulfate-hyaluronic acid (Coll-CS-HA) prepared by freezing at -20&ordm / C followed by lyophilization. The middle and bottom layers were made with just collagen after freezing at -20&ordm / C and -80&ordm / C, respectively and lyophilization. Aligned nano/microfibers were prepared using collagen-poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid (Coll-PLGA). Various crosslinking procedures such as 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS), genipin (GP), glutaraldehyde (GLU) either alone or in combination with dehydrothermal treatment (DHT) were used and based on both compressive and tensile properties, the best crosslinker was chosen to be DHT+EDC/NHS. Mechanical properties (compressive, tensile and shear) of the dry foams and the final 3D construct were evaluated. The highest mechanical properties were obtained with the 3D construct. Then all these foams and the 3D construct were seeded with human fibrochondrocytes to study the cell behavior such as attachment, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) and glucosaminoglycan (GAG) production. Furthermore, the influence of cell seeding on the compressive properties of wet individual foams and the 3D construct was observed. As expected, the highest cell proliferation and compressive properties were obtained with the 3D construct. Finally, the 3D constructs, seeded with fibrochondrocytes, were implanted in New Zealand rabbits after meniscectomy. The initial microscopical examination show that the 3D construct has a significant potential as a meniscus substitute.

Meniscus is a fibrocartilaginous tissue which plays an important role in joint stability, lubrication, and load bearing and transmission. Meniscal tears are commonly encountered in sports activities, or caused by degeneration of the cartilage with ageing. They lead to pain, loss of work, disturbed biomechanics of the knee and inability to walk or even move the legs. As the meniscal tissue is avascular in the inner portion, injury to this part does not heal by itself, and therefore treatments are needed. In some cases when complex tears occur, the tissue cannot be successfully treated with the conventional methods. Tissue engineering appears to be a promising alternative to treat such complex tears. It includes the application of cells on scaffolds (or cell carriers), and provision of bioactive agents to the site of injury in order to regenerate the damaged tissue. The cells and the bioactive agents are involved in the synthesis of the new tissue, while the scaffold acts as a support to guide the cells until the new tissue is formed, and it is slowly absorbed by the body leaving the new tissue behind. Thus, a natural tissue is generated at the end. Few studies have been reported on the tissue engineering of meniscus, but neither of them was able to completely mimic the meniscus structure, nor could they succeed in constructing scaffolds with sufficiently high tensile properties. In the current in vitro study, a novel 3D construct was proposed, in which the natural tissue is perfectly mimicked. The 3D construct consisted of aligned collagen fibers embedded within a foam network which stabilizes the structure. The foam was prepared by freezing a polymer solution with a certain concentration, and lyophilizing it. Aligned fibers were aimed to improve the tensile properties. The construct was impregnated in alginate gel, which was then crosslinked, to improve the compressive properties. The foam was prepared from (poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLLA/PLGA) solutions of various concentrations (2%, 2.5%, 3%, and 4% w/v) and at different freezing temperatures (-20oC or -80oC) to select the best preparation condition. After analysis of the microstructure and mechanical properties, foams prepared from 3% polymer solution frozen at -20oC were found to be the most appropriate for use as scaffold for the 3D construct, since they had large pores, high and interconnected porosity, as well as high mechanical strength. The 3D constructs were seeded with human meniscus cells and incubated for 21 days. Cell behavior on the constructs was examined. Cell attachment and proliferation was found to be better with the constructs not coated with alginate. However, the constructs coated with alginate demonstrated higher compressive strength. It was also found that incorporation of collagen fibers significantly improved the tensile properties. All the constructs were shown to lead to the production of extracellular components specific for fibrocartilages, and thus it was concluded that they were promising for use in meniscal replacement.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-198).

Το αντικείμενο της παρούσας μεταπτυχιακής διατριβής ειδίκευσης ήταν η μελέτη των φυσικοχημικών και μηχανικών ιδιοτήτων παθολογικά αλλοιωμένων ανθρώπινων μηνίσκων. Οι μηνίσκοι είναι ινοχόνδρινοι μηνοειδείς δίσκοι που παρεμβάλλονται μεταξύ των αρθρικών επιφανειών του μηριαίου κονδύλου και της κνημιαίας γλύνης. Αποτελούνται ως επί το πλείστον από ίνες κολλαγόνου και χονδροκύταρα. Περιέχουν ακόμα γλυκοσαμινογλυκάνες, ελλαστίνη και DNA. Συμβάλλουν καθοριστικά στη σωστή λειτουργία της άρθρωσης καθώς είναι επιφορτισμένοι με λειτουργίες, όπως η προστασία των αρθρικών επιφανειών από τη φθορά, η λίπανση και η σταθεροποίηση της άρθρωσης. Η σημαντικότερη ίσως μεταβολική νόσος των μηνίσκων είναι η χονδρασβεστίωση (chondrocalcinosis) κατά την οποία παρατηρείται ανάπτυξη ανόργανων αλάτων στην επιφάνεια ή/και στο σώμα του ιστού. Για τη μελέτη των ιδιοτήτων των παθολογικά αλλοιωμένων ανθρώπινων μηνίσκων χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τεχνικές μηχανικής και φυσικοχημικής ανάλυσης. Με Δυναμική Μηχανική Ανάλυση επιχειρήθηκε να αξιολογηθεί η επίδραση των διαφόρων τύπων παθολογικών αλλοιώσεων στις δυναμικές μηχανικές ιδιότητες των ιστών. Οι ασβεστοποιημένοι ιστοί και οι εναποθέσεις τους μελετήθηκαν με φασματοσκοπικές τεχνικές RAMAN, FT-RAMAN, FT-IR καθώς επίσης και με απεικονιστικές τεχνικές οπτικής μικροσκοπίας, σαρωτικής μικροσκοπίας ηλεκτρονίων (SEM) και μικροσκοπίας ατομικής δύναμης (AFM). Επιπλέον, για πρώτη φορά έγινε διασύγκριση της ικανότητας τριών διαφορετικών διατάξεων RAMAN (FT-RAMAN: 1064 nm, Dispersion RAMAN: 633 nm και Dispersion RAMAN: 325 nm) να εντοπίσουν την παρουσία εναποθέσεων στους ιστούς. Στην παρούσα μελέτη εξετάστηκαν 63 μηνισκικά μοσχεύματα από οστεοαρθριτικούς ασθενείς οι οποίοι υποβλήθηκαν σε ολική αρθροπλαστική γόνατος στο Περιφερειακό Πανεπιστημιακό Νοσοκομείο Πατρών. Τα μοσχεύματα αυτά εξετάστηκαν από ιστοπαθολόγο και διαγνώστηκαν οι παθολογικές αλλοιώσεις που έφερα καθένας από αυτούς. Με βάση τα ιστοπαθολογικά αποτελέσματα έγινε κατηγοριοποίηση των δοκιμίων και συσχέτιση των αποτελεσμάτων αυτών με τα αποτελέσματα των προαναφερθέντων τεχνικών. Από τα αποτελέσματα της δυναμικής μηχανικής ανάλυσης φάνηκαν μικρές αλλά όχι στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφοροποιήσεις μεταξύ ασβεστοποιημένων μηνίσκων και μηνίσκων που παρουσίαζαν μυξωματοειδή εκφυλισμό και κύστες (σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της ιστοπαθολογικής εξέτασης). Τα αποτελέσματα της περιθλασιμετρίας ακτίνων Χ των ασβεστοποιημένων ιστών έδειξαν παρουσία μείγματος τρικλινούς και μονοκλινούς διένυδρου πυροφωσφορικού ασβεστίου (CPPD) υψηλής κρυσταλλικότητας καθώς και μικροκρυσταλλικές εναποθέσεις απατιτικής σύστασης (HAP). Οι τεχνικές μικροσκοποίας (οπτική, SEM και AFM) επιβεβαίωσαν τον παραπάνω ισχυρισμό αποκαλύπτοντας το χαρακτηριστικό τρόπο ανάπτυξης κάθε τύπου εναπόθεσης. Τα αποτελέσματα της φασματοσκοπικής ανάλυσης με χρήση των τεχνικών RAMAN – FT-RAMAN – και FT-IR έδειξαν την παρουσία επίσης χαρακτηριστικών κορυφών του CPPD και του HAP. Οι εναποθέσεις από CPPD ανιχνεύθηκαν στο 82.6 % των ασβεστοποιημένων δειγμάτων (19 στα 23) ενώ από απατίτη στο 17.4% (4 στα 23) Aναφορικά με τα RAMAN, επισημαίνεται ότι ανεξάρτητα από το μήκος κύματος που χρησιμοποιήθηκε και παρά την ισχυρή μπάντα φθορισμού που επεδείκνυαν τα φάσματα, οι χαρακτηριστικές κορυφές των εναποθέσεων ήταν εμφανείς. / The aim of the present master thesis study was the physicochemical and biomechanical characterization of pathological human menisci. Menisci are semilunar shaped fibrocartilaginous tissues that lie between the femoral condyle and tibia plateau. They mainly consist of collagen fibers and chondrocytes. Additionally glycosaminoglycans, elastin and DNA are present in the tissue. Menisci play an important role in the good function of human knee joint by distributing the applied loads, contributing to the joint’s stability and lubricating the joint’s area. The most common metabolic meniscal lesion is the chondrocalcinosis where inorganic phases of calcium or sodium salts are deposited in/on the tissue. Pathologically altered human menisci were studied by mechanical and physicochemical analysis techniques. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis was used to investigate the effects of degeneration lesions on the dynamic mechanical properties of the tissue. Calcified tissues and the corresponding encrustations were studied by spectroscopic techniques such as RAMAN, FT-RAMAN, FT-IR as well as imaging techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, for the first time a comparison of the ability of three different RAMAN setups (FT-RAMAN: 1064 nm, Dispersion RAMAN: 633 nm and Dispersion RAMAN:325 nm) to detect calcification on the tissues was performed. The clinical sample comprised of 63 menisci with histopathologicaly confirmed alterations that were surgically extracted from osteoarthritic patients due to total knee arthroplasty in the University Hospital of Patras. Samples were classified according to the histopathological evaluation and a correlation of histopathological with mechanical or spectroscopic findings was attempted. Dynamic mechanical analysis results showed small but no statistically significant difference between the group of calcified and the group of mucoid and cystic degenerated tissues (as determined after histopathological examination) X-ray diffraction analysis of the menisci encrustations revealed highly crystallized depositions of triclinic and monoclinic Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) and some samples with poorly crystallized apatitic depositions (HAP). Microscopic techniques (optical, SEM and AFM) confirmed the presence of CPPD and HAP and in addition revealed information regarding their growth mechanism.The results of spectroscopical analysis using RAMAN – FT-RAMAN and FT-IR showed also the characteristic peaks of the inorganic phase (CPPD or HAP) presented in/on the tissue. CPPD encrustations were detected in 82.6 % (19 of 23) of the calcified samples while apatite in 17.4 % (4 of 23). Moreover, it is notable that all RAMAN setups showed the characteristic peaks of CPPD and HAP regardless of the excitation source and the strong fluorescence band.

La mesure quantitative de propriétés mécaniques à l’échelle nanométrique en matière molle est un réel enjeu pour de nombreux domaines, en particulier en biologie. Cette thèse propose une technique de microscopie, appelé Force Feedback Microscopy (FFM), permettant de mesurer simultanément la force statique, la raideur G’ (N/m) et la dissi- pation G” (N/m) à une fréquence arbitraire à l’échelle nanométrique.Cette technique utilise un microlevier AFM muni d’une pointe ou d’une sphère. Une contre-force, qui maintient en temps réel la position de la pointe constante, permet de maintenir le système mécaniquement stable et de mesurer la force statique. Dans cette configuration, le régime linéaire de l’interaction et de oscillateur harmonique est obtenu grâce à de petites amplitudes d’oscillation. Dans le formalisme de la réponse linéaire, la raideur G’ et la dissipation G” sont obtenues par une transformation linéaire de l’amplitude et de la phase.Grâce à des cas d’école (couplage électrostatique et confinement hydrodynamique), les performances expérimentales sont démontrées.Grâce au FFM, nous présentons les propriétés viscoélastiques mesurées d’un nanomé- nisque à partir de mesure à différentes fréquences. Nous mettons en évidence un régime hors-équilibre thermodynamique, où le nanoménisque oscille à volume constant avec une ligne de contact ancrée.Une méthode de mesure sans contact direct en milieu liquide de propriétés mécaniques d’échantillon mince et mou à l’échelle nanométrique est présenté. Cette méthode, basé sur le travail E.Charlaix avec le SFA (le Surface Force Apparatus fût le premier instrument à mesurer les forces de Van der Walls), permet de s’affranchir des forces de surfaces qui dominent à faible indentation lors de mesure par contact direct. Le travail effectué pendant ma thèse permet de positionner le FFM comme un nano-SFA.Afin de mettre cette méthode à disposition pour le plus grand nombre, le transfert technologique vers un AFM commercial est effectué. / Quantitative measurement of mechanical properties of soft material at the nanoscale is a real challenge for many areas, particularly in biology. This thesis proposes a microscopy technique called Force Feedback Microscopy (FFM) for simultaneously measuring the static force, the stiffness G’(N / m) and the dissipation G"(N / m) at an arbitrary frequency at the nanoscale.This technique uses an AFM cantilever with a tip or sphere. A feedback force, that maintains in real time the position of the tip constant, ensures the mechani- cally stability and measure the static force. In this configuration, the linear regime of interaction and harmonic oscillator is obtained through small oscillation ampli- tudes. In formalism of the linear response, the stiffness G’ and the dissipation G" are obtained by a linear transformation of the amplitude and phase. Through case study (electrostatic coupling and hydrodynamic confinement), experimental performance is demonstrated.Thanks to the FFM, we present the measured viscoelastic properties of nanomenis- cus for different measurement frequencies. We highlight a thermodynamic system out of equilibrium, where the nanomeniscus oscillates at constant volume with a locked contact line.A method for non-contact measurement in liquid medium of mechanical prop- erties of thin and soft sample at the nanoscale is presented. This method, based on the work of E.Charlaix with SFA (the Surface Force Apparatus was the first instrument to measure the forces of Van der Waals), overcomes the forces of sur- faces that dominate at low indentation during direct contact measurement. The work done during my PhD positions the FFM as a nano-SFA.To put this method available to the greatest number, technology transfer to commercial AFM is performed.

Le phénomène de démouillage est caractérisé par la croissance d'un cristal sans contact avec la paroi du creuset due à l'existence d'un ménisque liquide au niveau de l'interface solide-liquide. Ceci crée un espace de quelques dizaines de micromètres entre le cristal et le creuset dans lequel il est élaboré et une des conséquences immédiates de ce phénomène est la nette amélioration de la qualité du cristal. Dans le cas du démouillage, la forme du ménisque est décrite par l'équation de Young-Laplace à partir de laquelle on a pu établir le système des équations différentielles non-linéaires qui décrivent l'évolution du rayon du cristal et de la hauteur du ménisque en fonction de diverses perturbations. L'intérêt réside dans la possibilité d'étudier numériquement, à partir de ces équations, les solutions stationnaires, leur stabilité, statique et dynamique, et d'effectuer une étude de la sensibilité des solutions vis-à-vis des paramètres du procédé et des conditions initiales. / The phenomenon of dewetting is characterized by the Vertical Bridgman growth of a crystal without contact with the crucible wall due to the existence of a liquid meniscus at the level of the solid-liquid interface which creates a gap between the grown crystal and the inner crucible wall. One of the immediate consequences of this phenomenon is the drastic improvement of the crystal quality. In order to bring crucial information concerning dewetted phenomenon, detailed theoretical results and numerical simulations are necessary, on the basis of the mathematical models able to reflect better the real phenomenon which should include all essential processes appearing during the growth. The main problem of the dewetting growth and the related improvements of the material quality is the stability of the growth process. In this context, the goal of the present work is to perform analytical and numerical studies for capillarity, heat transfer and stability problems of the dewetted Bridgman process.