Biomechanical analysis of dynamic simulation of three dimensional finite element models of knee joint meniscus / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:At present, although the study of three-dimensional finite element biomechanical analysis of knee joint meniscus has been reported and we have a certain understanding of the biomechanical changes of the meniscus, but the dynamic simulation of the knee meniscus in the same load conditions in the process of biomechanical analysis of the knee meniscus is less reported. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joint meniscus under different flexion angle by using analogue simulation of finite element method. METHODS:Based on knee MRI data of the normal adult volunteers, the medicine finite element simulation software Mimics10.01 and reverse engineering software Rapidform XOR3 were utilized to reconstruct three-dimensional finite element model of knee joint meniscus. The advanced finite element analysis software Abaqus6.10-1 was utilized for analogue simulation and for analyzing biomechanical changes during flexion under vertical load of 300 N. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) While the knee joint flexed at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°, with the increase of angle, maximum stress point moved from the anterior edge of tibia attachment surface of the medial meniscus posterior angle to the posterior edge of tibia attachment surface of the lateral meniscus anterior angle, and the stress range of lateral meniscus was greater than that of the medial meniscus. (2) The maximal displacement point moved from the midpoint of inner edge of the medial meniscus to the front outer-upper edge of the lateral meniscus at knee flexion of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°. Moreover, the range of displacement of lateral meniscus was bigger than the medial meniscus. (3) These findings suggest that the meniscus is the major bearing structure in the process of knee flexion. The lateral meniscus injury rate is greater than the medial meniscus in process of exercise, which is associated with large stress and displacement.