Enhancing biomedical data validity with standardized segmentation finite element analysis

Abstract

Finite element analysis is a powerful computational technique for augmenting biomedical research, prosthetics design, and preoperative surgical assessment. However, the validity of biomechanical data obtained from finite element analysis is dependent on the quality of the preceding data processing. Until now, little information was available about the effect of the segmentation process on finite element models and biomechanical data. The current investigation applied 4 segmentation approaches to 129 femur specimens, yielding a total of 516 finite element models. Biomechanical data including average displacement, pressure, stress, and strain were collected from experimental groups based on the different segmentation approaches. The results indicate that only a 5.0% variation in the segmentation process leads to statistically significant differences in all 4 biomechanical measurements. These results suggest that it is crucial for consistent segmentation procedures to be applied to all specimens within a study. This methodological advancement will help to ensure that finite element data will be more accurate and that research conclusions will have greater validity.