Estimation of bovine pelvic limb inertial properties using an elliptical model

Abstract

Treatment of long bone fractures in bovines has been an objective of recent veterinary research. Accurate estimates of body segment inertial parameters (BSIP) play an important role in an appropriate prosthesis development. The aim of the present study is to develop a geometric model of bovine pelvic limb based on the mass distribution properties. Computer tomography images were used to obtain a computational model of bovine limb. This model provided information for geometric model construction. Measures of segmental mass, positions of segmental center of mass (CoM), and longitudinal moment of inertia (MoIzz) of segments of the right pelvic limb were estimated based on the geometric model. These estimates were compared with the computational model’s measurements and showed consistent accuracy. The segment mass decreased with distance from the pelvis with mean relative error (Er) less than −5.87 ± 1.2%, as did the segment MoIzz with Er(%) less than −16.40 ± 7.61% for segments predominantly consisting of bony tissue. The MoIzz was overestimated for segment with more soft tissue with Er(%) = 10.95 ± 19.08. The CoMzz was located 36–50% distal to the proximal segment end. The more proximal segment showed the largest Er(%) = −11.21 ± 2.41%, while the more distal showed the smallest Er(%) = 1.82 ± 0.87% for CoMzz. This study not only presents a technique that may be applied to other body segments, but also provides insight into bovine musculoskeletal system necessary to improve the biomechanical models applied to dynamic analysis of bovine movement.