The influence of UKA Installation Error of Joint Line on Contact Mechanics and Kinematics of Knee Joint / 医用生物力学

Objective Aiming at the medial prosthetic loosening failure and lateral cartilage degeneration after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty ( UKA), the effects of prosthetic installation errors of joint line in UKA on knee contact mechanics and kinematics during different physiologic activities were studied using musculoskeletal multi-body dynamic method. Methods Taking the medial natural joint line as 0 mm error, six installation errors ofjoint line including ±2 mm, ±4 mm and ±6 mm were considered respectively, and seven musculoskeletal multi body dynamic models of medial UKA were established, to comparatively study the variations in knee contact mechanics and kinematics during walking and squatting. Results At 70% of walking gait cycle, compared with 0 mm error, the medial prosthetic contact force was increased by 127. 3% and the contact force of the lateral cartilage was decreased by 12. 0% under 2 mm elevation in joint line, the medial prosthetic contact force was close to 0 N, but the lateral cartilage contact forces were increased by 10. 1% under 4 mm reduction in joint line. The tibiofemoral total contact forces were increased by 19. 7% and decreased by 14. 2% under 2 mm elevation and 2 mm reduction in joint line, respectively. At the 100°knee flexion during squatting, compared with 0 mm error, the medial prosthetic contact force and the tibiofemoral total contact force increased by 31. 6% and 11. 1% under 2 mm elevation in joint line, and decreased by 24. 5% and 8. 5% under 2 mm reduction in joint line, respectively. The change in the lateral cartilage contact force was not marked. Moreover, at 70% of walking gait cycle, the varus angle decreased, the internal rotation and the anterior translation increased along with the elevation of joint line in UKA, while it was just the opposite along with the reduction of joint line in UKA. The trends of the varus valgus movement and anterior-posterior translation during squatting were consistent with those during swing phase of walking, but the trend of the internal-external rotation was opposite. Conclusions In order to reduce the risk of medial prosthetic loosening failure and lateral cartilage degeneration, it is recommended that the installation error of joint line in UKA should be controlled in the range of -2 mm to +2 mm. This study provides theoretical basis for UKA clinical failure caused by changes in joint line

Effects from Extramedullary Design of Femoral Stem on Hip Contact Force: A Musculoskeletal Multi-Body Dynamic Study / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the effects of design parameters such as neck-shaft angle, femoral offset and anteversion angle of total hip arthroplasty ( THA) prosthesis on contact forces of the hip. Methods A musculoskeletal multi-body dynamic model of THA was established based on AnyBody software. The effects of single or multiple factors on hip contact force were studied when the neck-shaft angle, eccentricity and anteversion angle varied within ±10°, ±20 mm and ±10°, respectively. Results The maximum hip contact force increased by 26. 08% when femoral offset was reduced by 20 mm. The maximum hip contact force increased by 5. 99% when the neck-shaft angle increased by 10°. When the anteversion angle increased by 10°, the hip contact force decreased at 0% -24% of gait cycle, with the peak decreasing by 19. 16% . However, the hip contact force was significantly increased at 38% -70% of gait cycle, with the peak increasing by 67. 78% . Conclusions In extramedullary design of the femoral stem, based on reconstruction of the patient’s anatomical parameters, the offset of the femoral stem can be appropriately increased, and the neck-shaft angle and anteversion angle can bereduced to avoid increasing forces on the hip.

Musculoskeletal multibody dynamics investigation for the different medial-lateral installation position of the femoral component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty / 生物医学工程学杂志

The surgical installation accuracy of the components in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is an important factor affecting the joint function and the implant life. Taking the ratio of the medial-lateral position of the femoral component relative to the tibial insert (a/A) as a parameter, and considering nine installation conditions of the femoral component, this study established the musculoskeletal multibody dynamics models of UKA to simulate the patients' walking gait, and investigated the influences of the medial-lateral installation positions of the femoral component in UKA on the contact force, joint motion and ligament force of the knee joint. The results showed that, with the increase of a/A ratio, the medial contact force of the UKA implant was decreased and the lateral contact force of the cartilage was increased; the varus rotation, external rotation and posterior translation of the knee joint were increased; and the anterior cruciate ligament force, posterior cruciate ligament force and medial collateral ligament force were decreased. The medial-lateral installation positions of the femoral component in UKA had little effect on knee flexion-extension movement and lateral collateral ligament force. When the a/A ratio was less than or equalled to 0.375, the femoral component collided with the tibia. In order to prevent the overload on the medial implant and lateral cartilage, the excessive ligament force, and the collision between the femoral component and the tibia, it is suggested that the a/A ratio should be controlled within the range of 0.427-0.688 when the femoral component is installed in UKA. This study provides a reference for the accurate installation of the femoral component in UKA.

Effect of prosthetic joint line installation height errors on insert wear in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty / 生物医学工程学杂志

The clinical performance and failure issues are significantly influenced by prosthetic malposition in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Uncertainty exists about the impact of the prosthetic joint line height in UKA on tibial insert wear. In this study, we combined the UKA musculoskeletal multibody dynamics model, finite element model and wear model to investigate the effects of seven joint line height cases of fixed UKA implant on postoperative insert contact mechanics, cumulative sliding distance, linear wear depth and volumetric wear. As the elevation of the joint line height in UKA, the medial contact force and the joint anterior-posterior translation during swing phase were increased, and further the maximum von Mises stress, contact stress, linear wear depth, cumulative sliding distance, and the volumetric wear also were increased. Furthermore, the wear area of the insert gradually shifted from the middle region to the rear. Compared to 0 mm joint line height, the maximum linear wear depth and volumetric wear were decreased by 7.9% and 6.8% at -2 mm joint line height, and by 23.7% and 20.6% at -6 mm joint line height, the maximum linear wear depth and volumetric wear increased by 10.7% and 5.9% at +2 mm joint line height, and by 24.1% and 35.7% at +6 mm joint line height, respectively. UKA prosthetic joint line installation errors can significantly affect the wear life of the polyethylene inserted articular surfaces. Therefore, it is conservatively recommended that clinicians limit intraoperative UKA joint line height errors to -2-+2 mm.

Design and biomechanical analysis of a self-force source power-assisted knee orthotics actuated by liquid spring / 生物医学工程学杂志

A micro silicone oil liquid spring was designed and manufactured in this article. The performance of the liquid spring was studied by simulation analysis and mechanical test. A self-force source power-assisted knee orthosis was designed based on the liquid spring. This power-assisted knee orthosis can convert the kinetic energy of knee flexion into the elastic potential energy of liquid spring for storage, and release elastic potential energy to generate assisted torque which drives the knee joint for extension. The results showed that the average maximum reset force of the liquid spring was 1 240 N, and the average maximum assisted torque for the knee joint was 29.8 N·m. A musculoskeletal multibody dynamic model was used to analyze the biomechanical effect of the knee orthosis on the joint during knee bending (90°knee flexion). The results showed that the power-assisted knee orthosis could effectively reduce the biomechanical load of the knee joint for the user with a body weight of 80 kg. The maximum forces of the femoral-tibial joint force, patellar-femoral joint force, and quadriceps-ligament force were reduced by 24.5%, 23.8%, and 21.2%, respectively. The power-assisted knee orthosis designed in this article provides sufficient assisted torque for the knee joint. It lays a foundation for the subsequent commercial application due to its small size and lightweight.

Research progress in wear testing and computational simulation of total knee replacement in China / 中华骨科杂志

The simulator testing in vitro and computational simulation of the artificial knee joint wear are important methods to evaluate the wear performance of the prosthesis in vitro and to predict the clinical performance of knee joint products. Based on the method of literature search, this paper compares the mechanical and kinematic loading input curves carried out by Chinese scholars in recent years, standard curves, and Chinese measurement curves of two typical movements of gait. Data of vitro simulator test and computational simulation model are compared, summarized, and analyzed. The results show that the measured data of motion and load cannot be directly used as the loading conditions for the simulator wear test and computational simulation. The mechanics and kinematics data of Chinese people are different from the international standards. The domestic artificial knee joint in vitro simulator wear test methods are similar but the results of different test institutions are somewhat different. The computation wear prediction research is basically synchronized with foreign countries, but the problem that the calculated wear results are lower than that in vitro test is still unsolved. The artificial knee joint wear performance evaluation system based on Chinese knee joint mechanics and kinematics data is the forward direction of the research.

Research status for knee joint secondary kinematics / 中华骨科杂志

Osteoarthritis are usual disease in middle aged and elderly people. High tibial osteotomy is a common method which performed to treat medial compartment osteoarthritis in varus knees. Unicondylar knee arthroplasty is an established treat?ment option for symptomatic osteoarthritis isolated to one compartment, and received remarkably effect. Total knee arthroplasty is the standard treatment of serious knee disease. The knee kinematics have changed after the knee was diseased, and the kinematics after surgery are different from the natural joint. The flexion?extension rotation, anterior?posterior translation and interior?exterior rotation are most important kinematics of tibia?femur joint. The anterior?posterior translation and interior?exterior rotation, which as the secondary kinematics, even are paradoxical after total knee arthroplasty. Secondary kinematics studies played an important role in prosthesis design and postoperative functional assessment. Measurement and description methods of knee joint secondary kinematics were reviewed in this article. The factors influencing secondary kinematics were investigated for natural knee joint, os?teoarthritis knee joint and knee joint after total knee replacement separately, and the influence of total knee replacement design was emphasized. At last, the impact of knee secondary kinematics to biomechanics, friction and wear were also introduced. After comparison of multi?research results, the measurement precision was found to need further improvement due to the restrict of mea?suring technology and description methods. Many factors influence knee secondary kinematics, including activities, measurement environment and individual difference. The anterior?posterior translation was found complex after total knee replacement, and the prosthesis design played an important role. Posterior cruciate ligament?retaining knee replacement lead forward slide of the femo?ral component during flexion, which paradoxical from natural knee. The anatomical design prosthesis were hopeful to realize more natural kinematics. The component malalignment and soft tissue balance during surgey also have significant role in knee second?ary kinematics. The knee secondary kinematics study is of great significance to biomechanics and wear.

Research status for knee joint secondary kinematics / 中华骨科杂志

Osteoarthritis are usual disease in middle aged and elderly people. High tibial osteotomy is a common method which performed to treat medial compartment osteoarthritis in varus knees. Unicondylar knee arthroplasty is an established treatment option for symptomatic osteoarthritis isolated to one compartment, and received remarkably effect. Total knee arthroplasty is the standard treatment of serious knee disease. The knee kinematics have changed after the knee was diseased, and the kinematics after surgery are different from the natural joint. The flexion-extension rotation, anterior-posterior translation and interior-exterior rotation are most important kinematics of tibia-femur joint. The anterior-posterior translation and interior-exterior rotation, which as the secondary kinematics, even are paradoxical after total knee arthroplasty. Secondary kinematics studies played an important role in prosthesis design and postoperative functional assessment. Measurement and description methods of knee joint secondary kinematics were reviewed in this article. The factors influencing secondary kinematics were investigated for natural knee joint, osteoarthritis knee joint and knee joint after total knee replacement separately, and the influence of total knee replacement design was emphasized. At last, the impact of knee secondary kinematics to biomechanics, friction and wear were also introduced. After comparison of multi-research results, the measurement precision was found to need further improvement due to the restrict of measuring technology and description methods. Many factors influence knee secondary kinematics, including activities, measurement environment and individual difference. The anterior-posterior translation was found complex after total knee replacement, and the prosthesis design played an important role. Posterior cruciate ligament-retaining knee replacement lead forward slide of the femoral component during flexion, which paradoxical from natural knee. The anatomical design prosthesis were hopeful to realize more natural kinematics. The component malalignment and soft tissue balance during surgey also have significant role in knee secondary kinematics. The knee secondary kinematics study is of great significance to biomechanics and wear.

Applicability of Foot-Ground Contact Model at Different Gait Speed / 医用生物力学

Objective To establish the musculoskeletal multi-body dynamic foot-ground contact model and explore its applicability at different speed. Methods The gait data of the subjects at different speed were collected, and the foot-ground contact model was established based on the full body model from the musculoskeletal multibody dynamic software AnyBody. Then the calculated ground reaction forces (GRFs) and ground reaction moments (GRMs) at different speed (slow walking, normal walking, fast walking and jogging) were compared with the measurements from the force plates. Results The predicted GRFs and GRMs correlated well with the experimental measurements at slow, normal and fast speed (stride speed ranged from 0.69 to 1.68 m/s). The correlation coefficients between predicted and measured GRFs were greater than 0.875 and the correlation coefficients for GRMs were greater than 0.9. Conclusions The developed foot-ground contact model could simultaneously predict GRFs and GRMs with good accuracy, thus eliminating the dependency on force plates. The model could be applied to low-speed gait conditions, such as the elderly and pathological gait.