title: A statistical finite element model of the knee accounting for shape and alignment variability.
abstract: By characterizing anatomical differences in size and shape between subjects, statistical shape models enable population-based evaluations in biomechanics. Statistical models have largely focused on individual bones with application to implant sizing, bone fracture and osteoarthritis; however, in joint mechanics applications, the statistical models must consider the geometry of multiple structures of a joint and their relative position. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to develop a statistical shape and alignment modeling (SSAM) approach to characterize the intersubject variability in bone morphology and alignment for the structures of the knee, to demonstrate the statistical model's ability to describe variability in a training set and to generate realistic instances for use in finite element evaluation of joint mechanics. The statistical model included representations of the bone and cartilage for the femur, tibia and patella from magnetic resonance images and relative alignment of the structures at a known, loaded position in an experimental knee simulator for a training set of 20 specimens. The statistical model described relationships or modes of variation in shape and relative alignment of the knee structures. By generating new 'virtual subjects' with physiologically realistic knee anatomy, the modeling approach can efficiently perform investigations into joint mechanics and implant design which benefit from population-based considerations.
authors: Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA.
authors: Chandreshwar
authors: C
authors: Rao
authors: Clare K
authors: CK
authors: Fitzpatrick
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Rullkoetter
authors: Lorin P
authors: LP
authors: Maletsky
authors: Raymond H
authors: RH
authors: Kim
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Laz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D057285:Precision Medicine
keywords: Alignment; Joint mechanics; Knee; Principal component analysis; Probabilistic analysis; Statistical shape modeling