RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Plating ankle arthrodesis includes anterior and lateral plating methods, but there is some lack of knowledge about their differences in biomechanics. OBJECTIVE: To establish the three-dimensional models of anterior and lateral plating ankle arthrodesis through three-dimensional finite element technique, simulate human gait, and to analyze its biomechanical stability and safety. METHODS: The geometrical morphology of ankle joint was reconstructed based on the normal human ankle CT data. The models of anterior and lateral plating ankle arthrodesis were established using finite element analysis software Abaqus 2016, and the biomechanical changes after exerting stress at the positions of intorsion,extorsion, dorsiflexion, and neutral were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The maximal displacement and stress distribution under different stress were compared between two models by three-dimensional element analysis, and there was no significant difference in the stability between two models. (2) The abilities of resistance to intorsion and dorsiflexion stresses of the lateral plating model were slightly better than those of the anterior plating model, but the resistance to extorsion stress of the lateral plating model was lower than that of the anterior plating model; the stress peak both concentrated on the plate-screw connections. (3) The plate, screw and bone mass of the anterior plating model showed the maximum stress peak under intorsion stress, and broken plates and nails usually occur. (4) The lateral plating presented with peak stress under extorsion stress.