Cartilage Contact Research Articles

Measurement of tibiofemoral kinematics using highly accelerated 3D radial sampling

This study investigated the use of dynamic, volumetric MRI to measure 3D skeletal motion. Ten healthy subjects were positioned on a MR-compatible knee loading device and instructed to harmonically flex and extend their knee at 0.5 Hz. The device induced active quadriceps loading with knee flexion, similar to the load acceptance phase of gait. Volumetric images were continuously acquired for 5 min using a 3D cine spoiled gradient-echo sequence in conjunction with vastly under-sampled isotropic projection reconstruction. Knee angle was simultaneously monitored and used retrospectively to sort images into 60 frames over the motion cycle. High-resolution static knee images were acquired and segmented to create subject-specific models of the femur and tibia. At each time frame, bone positions and orientations were determined by automatically registering the skeletal models to the dynamic images. Three-dimensional tibiofemoral translations and rotations were consistent across healthy subjects. Internal tibia rotations of 7.8±3.5° were present with 35.8±3.8° of knee flexion, a pattern consistent with knee kinematic measures during walking. We conclude that vastly under-sampled isotropic projection reconstruction imaging is a promising approach for noninvasively measuring 3D joint kinematics, which may be useful for assessing cartilage contact and investigating the causes and treatment of joint abnormalities.

Tibiofemoral cartilage contact biomechanics in patients after reconstruction of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament

We investigated the in vivo cartilage contact biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint in patients after reconstruction of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A dual fluoroscopic and MR imaging technique was used to investigate the cartilage contact biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint during in vivo weight-bearing flexion of the knee in eight patients 6 months following clinically successful reconstruction of an acute isolated ACL rupture. The location of tibiofemoral cartilage contact, size of the contact area, cartilage thickness at the contact area, and magnitude of the cartilage contact deformation of the ACL-reconstructed knees were compared with those previously measured in intact (contralateral) knees and ACL-deficient knees of the same subjects. Contact biomechanics of the tibiofemoral cartilage after ACL reconstruction were similar to those measured in intact knees. However, at lower flexion, the abnormal posterior and lateral shift of cartilage contact location to smaller regions of thinner tibial cartilage that has been described in ACL-deficient knees persisted in ACL-reconstructed knees, resulting in an increase of the magnitude of cartilage contact deformation at those flexion angles. Reconstruction of the ACL restored some of the in vivo cartilage contact biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint to normal. Clinically, recovering anterior knee stability might be insufficient to prevent post-operative cartilage degeneration due to lack of restoration of in vivo cartilage contact biomechanics.

A methodology to accurately quantify patellofemoral cartilage contact kinematics by combining 3D image shape registration and cine-PC MRI velocity data

Patellofemoral osteoarthritis and its potential precursor patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) are common, costly, and debilitating diseases. PFPS has been shown to be associated with altered patellofemoral joint mechanics; however, an actual variation in joint contact stresses has not been established due to challenges in accurately quantifying in vivo contact kinematics (area and location). This study developed and validated a method for tracking dynamic, in vivo cartilage contact kinematics by combining three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, cine-phase contrast (CPC), multi-plane cine (MPC), and 3D high-resolution static imaging. CPC and MPC data were acquired from 12 healthy volunteers while they actively extended/flexed their knee within the MRI scanner. Since no gold standard exists for the quantification of in vivo dynamic cartilage contact kinematics, the accuracy of tracking a single point (patellar origin relative to the femur) represented the accuracy of tracking the kinematics of an entire surface. The accuracy was determined by the average absolute error between the PF kinematics derived through registration of MPC images to a static model and those derived through integration of the CPC velocity data. The accuracy ranged from 0.47mm to 0.77mm for the patella and femur and from 0.68mm to 0.86mm for the patellofemoral joint. For purely quantifying joint kinematics, CPC remains an analytically simpler and more accurate (accuracy <0.33mm) technique. However, for application requiring the tracking of an entire surface, such as quantifying cartilage contact kinematics, this combined imaging approach produces accurate results with minimal operator intervention.

Finite element prediction of cartilage contact stresses in normal human hips

Our objectives were to determine cartilage contact stress during walking, stair climbing, and descending stairs in a well-defined group of normal volunteers and to assess variations in contact stress and area among subjects and across loading scenarios. Ten volunteers without history of hip pain or disease with normal lateral center-edge angle and acetabular index were selected. Computed tomography imaging with contrast was performed on one hip. Bone and cartilage surfaces were segmented from volumetric image data, and subject-specific finite element models were constructed and analyzed using a validated protocol. Acetabular contact stress and area were determined for seven activities. Peak stress ranged from 7.52±2.11 MPa for heel-strike during walking (233% BW) to 8.66 ± 3.01 MPa for heel-strike during descending stairs (261% BW). Average contact area across all activities was 34% of the surface area of the acetabular cartilage. The distribution of contact stress was highly non-uniform, and more variability occurred among subjects for a given activity than among activities for a single subject. The magnitude and area of contact stress were consistent between activities, although inter-activity shifts in contact pattern were found as the direction of loading changed. Relatively small incongruencies between the femoral and acetabular cartilage had a large effect on the contact stresses. These effects tended to persist across all simulated activities. These results demonstrate the diversity and trends in cartilage contact stress in healthy hips during activities of daily living and provide a basis for future comparisons between normal and pathologic hips.

A multibody knee model with discrete cartilage prediction of tibio-femoral contact mechanics

Combining musculoskeletal simulations with anatomical joint models capable of predicting cartilage contact mechanics would provide a valuable tool for studying the relationships between muscle force and cartilage loading. As a step towards producing multibody musculoskeletal models that include representation of cartilage tissue mechanics, this research developed a subject-specific multibody knee model that represented the tibia plateau cartilage as discrete rigid bodies that interacted with the femur through deformable contacts. Parameters for the compliant contact law were derived using three methods: (1) simplified Hertzian contact theory, (2) simplified elastic foundation contact theory and (3) parameter optimisation from a finite element (FE) solution. The contact parameters and contact friction were evaluated during a simulated walk in a virtual dynamic knee simulator, and the resulting kinematics were compared with measured in vitro kinematics. The effects on predicted contact pressures and cartilage–bone interface shear forces during the simulated walk were also evaluated. The compliant contact stiffness parameters had a statistically significant effect on predicted contact pressures as well as all tibio-femoral motions except flexion–extension. The contact friction was not statistically significant to contact pressures, but was statistically significant to medial–lateral translation and all rotations except flexion–extension. The magnitude of kinematic differences between model formulations was relatively small, but contact pressure predictions were sensitive to model formulation. The developed multibody knee model was computationally efficient and had a computation time 283 times faster than a FE simulation using the same geometries and boundary conditions.

Influence of the contact model on the dynamic response of the human knee joint

The goal of this work is to study the influence of the contact force model, contact geometry, and contact material properties on the dynamic response of a human knee joint model. For this purpose, a multibody knee model composed by two rigid bodies, the femur and the tibia, and four non-linear spring elements that represent the main knee ligaments, is considered. The contact force models used were the Hertz, the Hunt–Crossley, and the Lankarani–Nikravesh approaches. Results obtained from computational simulations show that Hertz law is less suitable to describe the dynamic response of the cartilage contact, because this pure elastic model does not account for the viscoelastic nature of the human articulations. Since knee can exhibit conformal and non-conformal contact scenarios, three different geometrical configurations for femur–tibia contact are considered, that is convex–convex sphere contact, convex–concave sphere contact, and convex sphere–plane contact. The highest level of contact forces is obtained for the case of convex–convex sphere contact. As far as the influence of the material contact properties is concerned, the dynamic response of a healthy and natural knee is analysed and compared with three pathological and two artificial knee models. The obtained results demonstrate that the presence of the cartilage reduces significantly the knee contact forces.

In vivo tibiofemoral cartilage‐to‐cartilage contact area of females with medial osteoarthritis under acute loading using MRI

To investigate the effect of acute loading on in vivo tibiofemoral contact area changes in both compartments, and to determine whether in vivo tibiofemoral contact area differs between subjects with medial knee osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy controls. Ten subjects with medial knee OA (KL3) and 11 control subjects (KL0) were tested. Coronal three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled (3D-SPGR) and T(2) -weighted fast spin-echo FSE magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee were acquired under both unloaded and loaded conditions. Tibiofemoral cartilage contact areas were measured using image-based 3D models. Tibiofemoral contact areas in both compartments significantly increased under loading (P < 0.001) and the increased contact area in the medial compartment was significantly larger than in the lateral compartment (P < 0.05). Medial compartment contact area was significantly larger in KL3 subjects than KL0 subjects, both at unloaded and loaded conditions (P < 0.05). Contact areas measured from 3D-SPGR and T(2) -weighted FSE images were strongly correlated (r = 0.904). Females with medial OA increased tibiofemoral contact area in the medial compartment compared to healthy subjects under both unloaded and loaded conditions. The contact area data presented in this study may provide a quantitative reference for further cartilage contact biomechanics such as contact stress analysis and cartilage biomechanical function difference between osteoarthritic and healthy knees.

Role of the acetabular labrum in load support across the hip joint

The relatively high incidence of labral tears among patients presenting with hip pain suggests that the acetabular labrum is often subjected to injurious loading in vivo. However, it is unclear whether the labrum participates in load transfer across the joint during activities of daily living. This study examined the role of the acetabular labrum in load transfer for hips with normal acetabular geometry and acetabular dysplasia using subject-specific finite element analysis. Models were generated from volumetric CT data and analyzed with and without the labrum during activities of daily living. The labrum in the dysplastic model supported 4–11% of the total load transferred across the joint, while the labrum in the normal model supported only 1–2% of the total load. Despite the increased load transferred to the acetabular cartilage in simulations without the labrum, there were minimal differences in cartilage contact stresses. This was because the load supported by the cartilage correlated with the cartilage contact area. A higher percentage of load was transferred to the labrum in the dysplastic model because the femoral head achieved equilibrium near the lateral edge of the acetabulum. The results of this study suggest that the labrum plays a larger role in load transfer and joint stability in hips with acetabular dysplasia than in hips with normal acetabular geometry.

Changes in articular cartilage mechanics with meniscectomy: A novel image-based modeling approach and comparison to patterns of OA

Meniscectomy is a significant risk factor for osteoarthritis, involving altered cell synthesis, central fibrillation, and peripheral osteophyte formation. Though changes in articular cartilage contact pressure are known, changes in tissue-level mechanical parameters within articular cartilage are not well understood. Recent imaging research has revealed the effects of meniscectomy on the time-dependent deformation of physiologically loaded articular cartilage. To determine tissue-level cartilage mechanics that underlie observed deformation, a novel finite element modeling approach using imaging data and a contacting indenter boundary condition was developed. The indenter method reproduces observed articular surface deformation and avoids assumptions about tangential stretching. Comparison of results from an indenter model with a traditional femur–tibia model verified the method, giving errors in displacement, solid and fluid stress, and strain below 1% (RMS) and 7% (max.) of the absolute maximum of the parameters of interest. Indenter finite element models using real joint image data showed increased fluid pressure, fluid exudation, loss of fluid load support, and increased tensile strains centrally on the tibial condyle after meniscectomy—patterns corresponding to clinical observations of cartilage matrix damage and fibrillation. Peripherally there was decreased consolidation, which corresponds to reduced contact and fluid pressure in this analysis. Clinically, these areas have exhibited advance of the subchondral growth front, biological destruction of the cartilage matrix, cartilage thinning, and eventual replacement of the cartilage via endochondral ossification. Characterizing the changes in cartilage mechanics with meniscectomy and correspondence with observed tissue-level effects may help elucidate the etiology of joint-level degradation seen in osteoarthritis.

Effects of in vivo exercise on ankle cartilage deformation and recovery in healthy volunteers: an experimental study

To monitor ankle cartilage 3D volume changes after in vivo exercise and during recovery. Based on 3D MRI, 3D volumes of talar and tibial cartilage were calculated before and after 30 bilateral knee bends in 12 healthy volunteers. 3D volumes were calculated at five time points (one pre- and four post-scans) determining deformation and recovery for both cartilage plates of interest. Post-scans ran immediately after the exercise and were repeated according to a 15 min interval. 3D volumes were subjected to repeated measures GLM. Additionally, relative surface area use during deformation was compared between plates using a Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and its correlation with deformation was investigated using Spearman's rho. Mean 3D volume change percentages for talar cartilage after the exercise were: -10.41%, -8.18%, -5.61% and -3.90%. For tibial cartilage mean changes were: -5.97%, -5.75%, +0.89% and +1.51%. For talar cartilage changes were significant, except following 30 min post-exercise. For tibial cartilage no changes were significant. At all time points, no significant differences in relative volume changes between both cartilage plates existed. Although no significant differences in relative surface area use between plates were revealed, a moderate to strong correlation with deformation existed. Ankle cartilage endures substantial deformation after in vivo loading that was restored within 30 min for the talus. Overall cartilage contact area involvement might be associated with cartilage quality maintenance in the upper ankle. Talar cartilage is suggested to play a critical role in intra-articular shock attenuation when compared to tibial cartilage.

Knee joint kinematics during walking influences the spatial cartilage thickness distribution in the knee

The regional adaptation of knee cartilage morphology to the kinematics of walking has been suggested as an important factor in the evaluation of the consequences of alteration in normal gait leading to osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of spatial cartilage thickness distributions of the femur and tibia in the knee to the knee kinematics during walking. Gait data and knee MR images were obtained from 17 healthy volunteers (age 33.2±9.8 years). Cartilage thickness maps were created for the femoral and tibial cartilage. Locations of thickest cartilage in the medial and lateral compartments in the femur and tibia were identified using a numerical method. The flexion–extension (FE) angle associated with the cartilage contact regions on the femur, and the anterior–posterior (AP) translation and internal–external (IE) rotation associated with the cartilage contact regions on the tibia at the heel strike of walking were tested for correlation with the locations of thickest cartilage. The locations of the thickest cartilage had relatively large variation (SD, 8.9°) and was significantly associated with the FE angle at heel strike only in the medial femoral condyle ( R 2=0.41, p<0.01). The natural knee kinematics and contact surface shapes seem to affect the functional adaptation of knee articular cartilage morphology. The sensitivity of cartilage morphology to kinematics at the knee during walking suggests that regional cartilage thickness variations are influenced by both loading and the number of loading cycles. Thus walking is an important consideration in the analysis of the morphological variations of articular cartilage, since it is the dominant cyclic activity of daily living. The sensitivity of cartilage morphology to gait kinematics is also important in understanding the etiology and pathomechanics of osteoarthritis.

Dependence of nanoscale friction and adhesion properties of articular cartilage on contact load

Boundary lubrication of articular cartilage by conformal, molecularly thin films reduces friction and adhesion between asperities at the cartilage–cartilage contact interface when the contact conditions are not conducive to fluid film lubrication. In this study, the nanoscale friction and adhesion properties of articular cartilage from typical load-bearing and non-load-bearing joint regions were studied in the boundary lubrication regime under a range of physiological contact pressures using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Adhesion of load-bearing cartilage was found to be much lower than that of non-load-bearing cartilage. In addition, load-bearing cartilage demonstrated steady and low friction coefficient through the entire load range examined, whereas non-load-bearing cartilage showed higher friction coefficient that decreased nonlinearly with increasing normal load. AFM imaging and roughness calculations indicated that the above trends in the nanotribological properties of cartilage are not due to topographical (roughness) differences. However, immunohistochemistry revealed consistently higher surface concentration of boundary lubricant at load-bearing joint regions. The results of this study suggest that under contact conditions leading to joint starvation from fluid lubrication, the higher content of boundary lubricant at load-bearing cartilage sites preserves synovial joint function by minimizing adhesion and wear at asperity microcontacts, which are precursors for tissue degeneration.

Comparison of MRI-Based Estimates of Articular Cartilage Contact Area in the Tibiofemoral Joint

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) detrimentally impacts the lives of millions of older Americans through pain and decreased functional ability. Unfortunately, the pathomechanics and associated deviations from joint homeostasis that OA patients experience are not well understood. Alterations in mechanical stress in the knee joint may play an essential role in OA; however, existing literature in this area is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based modeling method to estimate articular cartilage contact area in vivo. Imaging data of both knees were collected on a single subject with no history of knee pathology at three knee flexion angles. Intra-observer reliability and sensitivity studies were also performed to determine the role of operator-influenced elements of the data processing on the results. The method's articular cartilage contact area estimates were compared with existing contact area estimates in the literature. The method demonstrated an intra-observer reliability of 0.95 when assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and was found to be most sensitive to changes in the cartilage tracings on the peripheries of the compartment. The articular cartilage contact area estimates at full extension were similar to those reported in the literature. The relationships between tibiofemoral articular cartilage contact area and knee flexion were also qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those previously reported. The MRI-based knee modeling method was found to have high intra-observer reliability, sensitivity to peripheral articular cartilage tracings, and agreeability with previous investigations when using data from a single healthy adult. Future studies will implement this modeling method to investigate the role that mechanical stress may play in progression of knee OA through estimation of articular cartilage contact area.

In vivo cartilage contact strains in patients with lateral ankle instability

Damage to the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and cacaneofibular ligament (CFL) during an ankle sprain may be linked to the development of osteoarthritis. Although altered tibiotalar kinematics have been demonstrated, the effects of lateral ankle instability (LAI) on in vivo cartilage strains have not been described. We hypothesized that peak cartilage strains increase, and the location is shifted in patients with ATFL injuries. We used 3-D MRI models and biplanar fluoroscopy to evaluate in vivo cartilage contact strains in seven patients with unilateral LAI. Subjects had chronic unilateral ATFL injury or combined ATFL and CFL injury, and were evaluated with increasing load while stepping onto a force plate. Peak cartilage strain and the location of the peak strain were measured using the contralateral normal ankle as a control. Ankles with LAI demonstrated significantly increased peak strain when compared with ATFL-intact controls. For example, at 100% body weight, peak strain was 29±8% on the injured side compared to 21±5% on the intact side. The position of peak strain on the injured ankle also showed significant anterior translation and medial translation. At 100% body weight, the location of peak strain in the injured ankle translated anteriorly by 15.5±7.1 mm and medially by 12.9±4.3 mm relative to the intact ankle. These changes correspond to the region of clinically observed osteoarthritis. Chronic LAI, therefore, may contribute to the development of tibiotalar cartilage degeneration due to altered cartilage strains.

Effect of Transection of the Caudal Menisco‐Tibial Ligament on Medial Femorotibial Contact Mechanics

To evaluate the effect of transection of the medial caudal menisco-tibial ligament on contact mechanics in a canine cadaveric model of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Ex vivo biomechanical study. Unpaired pelvic limbs (n=8) from 28-35 kg dogs. Cadaveric pelvic limbs with CCL-deficient stifles stabilized with TPLO were axially loaded using a material testing machine with 30% body weight and a stifle angle of 135 degrees. Medial compartment femorotibial contact force and area, peak and mean contact pressure, and peak pressure location were measured with pressure sensors. A paired t-test was used for comparison; P<.05 was considered significant. Transection of the caudal menisco-tibial ligament resulted in a significant decrease in contact area, from 145 +/- 24 to 71 +/- 25 mm(2) (P<.001) and a significant increase in peak pressure magnitude from 2.9 +/- 0.4 to 4.1 +/- 0.5 MPa (P<.001). Transection of the caudal menisco-tibial ligament caused a significant increase in load in the caudal portion of the medial compartment (P<.001). Our results suggest that transecting the caudal menisco-tibial ligament eliminates the load bearing function of the medial meniscus and results in significant changes in medial femorotibial contact mechanics. The abnormal cartilage contact stresses after transection of the caudal menisco-tibial ligament may have a negative impact on the cartilage homeostasis and predispose to further degeneration of the medial compartment after TPLO.

Loading and knee alignment have significant influence on cartilage MRI T2 in porcine knee joints

Physiological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under loading or knee malalignment conditions has not been thoroughly investigated. We assessed the influence of static loading and knee alignment on T2 (transverse relaxation time) mapping of the knee femoral cartilage of porcine knee joints using a non-metallic pressure device. Ten porcine knee joints were harvested en bloc with intact capsules and surrounding muscles and imaged using a custom-made pressure device and 3.0-T MRI system. Sagittal T2 maps were obtained (1) at knee neutral alignment without external loading (no loading), (2) under mechanical compression of 140 N (neutral loading), and (3) under the same loading conditions as in (2) with the knee at 10 degrees varus alignment (varus loading). T2 values of deep, intermediate, and superficial zones of the medial and lateral femoral cartilages at the weight-bearing area were compared among these conditions using custom-made software. Cartilage contact pressure between the femoral and tibial cartilages, measured by a pressure-sensitive film, was correlated with cartilage T2 measurements. In the medial cartilage, mean T2 values of the deep, intermediate, and superficial zones decreased by 1.4%, 13.0%, and 6.0% under neutral loading. They further decreased by 4.3%, 19.3%, and 17.2% under varus loading compared to no loading. In the lateral cartilage, these mean T2 values decreased by 3.9%, 7.7%, and 4.2% under neutral loading, but increased by 1.6%, 9.6%, and 7.2% under varus loading. There was a significant decrease in T2 values in the intermediate zone of the medial cartilage under both neutral and varus loading, and in the superficial zone of the medial cartilage under varus loading (P<0.05). Total contact pressure values under neutral loading and varus loading conditions significantly correlated with T2 values in the superficial and intermediate zones of the medial cartilages. The response of T2 to change in static loading or alignment varied between the medial and lateral cartilages, and among the deep, intermediate, and superficial zones. These T2 changes were significantly related to the contact pressure measurements. Our results indicate that T2 mapping under loading allows non-invasive, biomechanical assessment of site-specific stress distribution in the cartilage.

In-vivo time-dependent articular cartilage contact behavior of the tibiofemoral joint

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vivo time-dependent contact behavior of tibiofemoral cartilage of human subjects during the first 300 s after applying a constant full body weight loading and determine whether there are differences in cartilage contact responses between the medial and lateral compartments. Six healthy knees were investigated in this study. Each knee joint was subjected to full body weight loading and the in-vivo positions of the knee were captured by two orthogonal fluoroscopes during the first 300 s after applying the load. Three-dimensional models of the knee were created from MR images and used to reproduce the in-vivo knee positions recorded by the fluoroscopes. The time-dependent contact behavior of the cartilage was represented using the peak cartilage contact deformation and the cartilage contact area as functions of time under the constant full body weight. Both medial and lateral compartments showed a rapid increase in contact deformation and contact area during the first 20s of loading. After 50s of loading, the peak contact deformation values were 10.5+/-0.8% (medial) and 12.6+/-3.4% (lateral), and the contact areas were 223.9+/-14.8 mm(2) (medial) and 123.0+/-22.8 mm(2) (lateral). Thereafter, the peak cartilage contact deformation and contact area remained relatively constant. The respective changing rates of cartilage contact deformation were 1.4+/-0.9%/s (medial) and 3.1+/-2.5%/s (lateral); and of contact areas were 40.6+/-20.8 mm(2)/s (medial) and 24.0+/-11.4 mm(2)/s (lateral), at the first second of loading. Beyond 50 s, both changing rates approached zero. The peak cartilage contact deformation increased rapidly within the first 20s of loading and remained relatively constant after approximately 50 s of loading. The time-dependent response of cartilage contact behavior under constant full body weight loading was significantly different in the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments, with greater peak cartilage contact deformation on the lateral side and greater contact area on the medial side. These data can provide insight into normal in-vivo cartilage function and provide guidelines for the improvement of ex-vivo cartilage experiments and the validation of computational models that simulate human knee joint contact.

A subject specific multibody model of the knee with menisci

The menisci of the knee play an important role in joint function and our understanding of knee mechanics and tissue interactions can be enhanced through computational models of the tibio-menisco-femoral structure. Several finite element models of the knee that include meniscus–cartilage contact exist, but these models are typically limited to simplified boundary conditions. Movement simulation and musculoskeletal modeling can predict muscle forces, but are typically performed using the multibody method with simplified representation of joint structures. This study develops a subject specific computational model of the knee with menisci that can be incorporated into neuromusculoskeletal models within a multibody framework. Meniscus geometries from a 78-year-old female right cadaver knee were divided into 61 discrete elements (29 medial and 32 lateral) that were connected through 6 × 6 stiffness matrices. An optimization and design of experiments approach was used to determine parameters for the 6 × 6 stiffness matrices such that the force–displacement relationship of the meniscus matched that of a linearly elastic transversely isotropic finite element model for the same cadaver knee. Similarly, parameters for compliant contact models of tibio-menisco-femoral articulations were derived from finite element solutions. As a final step, a multibody knee model was developed and placed within a dynamic knee simulator model and the tibio-femoral and patello-femoral kinematics compared to an identically loaded cadaver knee. RMS errors between finite element displacement and multibody displacement after parameter optimization were 0.017 mm for the lateral meniscus and 0.051 mm for the medial meniscus. RMS errors between model predicted and experimental cadaver kinematics during a walk cycle were less than 11 mm translation and less than 7° orientation. A small improvement in kinematics, compared to experimental measurements, was seen when the menisci were included versus a model without the menisci. With the menisci the predicted tibio-femoral contact force was significantly reduced on the lateral side (937 N peak force versus 633 N peak force), but no significant reduction was seen on the medial side.

Effects of idealized joint geometry on finite element predictions of cartilage contact stresses in the hip

Computational models may have the ability to quantify the relationship between hip morphology, cartilage mechanics and osteoarthritis. Most models have assumed the hip joint to be a perfect ball and socket joint and have neglected deformation at the bone-cartilage interface. The objective of this study was to analyze finite element (FE) models of hip cartilage mechanics with varying degrees of simplified geometry and a model with a rigid bone material assumption to elucidate the effects on predictions of cartilage stress. A previously validated subject-specific FE model of a cadaveric hip joint was used as the basis for the models. Geometry for the bone-cartilage interface was either: (1) subject-specific (i.e. irregular), (2) spherical, or (3) a rotational conchoid. Cartilage was assigned either a varying (irregular) or constant thickness (smoothed). Loading conditions simulated walking, stair-climbing and descending stairs. FE predictions of contact stress for the simplified models were compared with predictions from the subject-specific model. Both spheres and conchoids provided a good approximation of native hip joint geometry (average fitting error ∼0.5 mm). However, models with spherical/conchoid bone geometry and smoothed articulating cartilage surfaces grossly underestimated peak and average contact pressures (50% and 25% lower, respectively) and overestimated contact area when compared to the subject-specific FE model. Models incorporating subject-specific bone geometry with smoothed articulating cartilage also underestimated pressures and predicted evenly distributed patterns of contact. The model with rigid bones predicted much higher pressures than the subject-specific model with deformable bones. The results demonstrate that simplifications to the geometry of the bone-cartilage interface, cartilage surface and bone material properties can have a dramatic effect on the predicted magnitude and distribution of cartilage contact pressures in the hip joint.

Robust and General Method for Determining Surface Fluid Flow Boundary Conditions in Articular Cartilage Contact Mechanics Modeling

Contact detection in cartilage contact mechanics is an important feature of any analytical or computational modeling investigation when the biphasic nature of cartilage and the corresponding tribology are taken into account. The fluid flow boundary conditions will change based on whether the surface is in contact or not, which will affect the interstitial fluid pressurization. This in turn will increase or decrease the load sustained by the fluid phase, with a direct effect on friction, wear, and lubrication. In laboratory experiments or clinical hemiarthroplasty, when a rigid indenter or metallic prosthesis is used to apply load to the cartilage, there will not be any fluid flow normal to the surface in the contact region due to the impermeable nature of the indenter/prosthesis. In the natural joint, on the other hand, where two cartilage surfaces interact, flow will depend on the pressure difference across the interface. Furthermore, in both these cases, the fluid would flow freely in non-contacting regions. However, it should be pointed out that the contact area is generally unknown in advance in both cases and can only be determined as part of the solution. In the present finite element study, a general and robust algorithm was proposed to decide nodes in contact on the cartilage surface and, accordingly, impose the fluid flow boundary conditions. The algorithm was first tested for a rigid indenter against cartilage model. The algorithm worked well for two-dimensional four-noded and eight-noded axisymmetric element models as well as three-dimensional models. It was then extended to include two cartilages in contact. The results were in excellent agreement with the previous studies reported in the literature.