A Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Mechanical Stresses in the Human Knee Joint: Problem of Cartilage Destruction

Abstract:

Knee malalignment is considered one of the key biomechanical factors that influence the progression of knee osteoarthritis. In this context, a three-dimensional Finite Element model of the knee joint is developed and used to investigate the effect of the frontal plane femoro-tibial angle as well as the body weight load on the stress distribution in the knee cartilage and menisci. Therefore, the knee joint model is obtained through CAD software. Bones, articular cartilage and menisci are considered linear, elastic and isotropic materials. Ligaments were modelled using connectors. Consequently, contact pressures and equivalent stress (von-Mises) are calculated in Abaqus software. This model was validated using experimental and numerical results obtained by other authors. Results of this work demonstrated that; compressive stress and contact pressure on the medial compartment of the knee joint were found to be larger compared to those in the lateral compartment when the femoro-tibial angle and the body weight load increased from 0° to 12° varus and 500 N to 1250 N, respectively, suggesting that these two parameters might be risk factors for developing medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.

• Periodical: Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (Volume 32)
• Pages: 29-39
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JBBBE.32.29
• Online since: May 2017
• Authors: Zahra Trad, Abdelwahed Barkaoui*, Moez Chafra
• Keywords: Body Weight Load, Cartilage, Finite Element Analysis, Knee, Malalignment, Stress Distribution

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