title: The use of rapid prototyped implants to simulate knee joint abnormalities for in vitro testing: a validation study with replica implants of the native trochlea.
abstract: To investigate the biomechanical effect of skeletal knee joint abnormalities, the authors propose to implant pathologically shaped rapid prototyped implants in cadaver knee specimens. This new method was validated by replacing the native trochlea by a replica implant on four cadaver knees with the aid of cadaver-specific guiding instruments. The accuracy of the guiding instruments was assessed by measuring the rotational errors of the cutting planes (on average 3.01° in extension and 1.18° in external/internal rotation). During a squat and open chain simulation, the patella showed small differences in its articulation with the native trochlea and the replica trochlea, which could partially be explained by the rotational errors of the implants. This study concludes that this method is valid to investigate the effect of knee joint abnormalities with a replica implant as a control condition to account for the influence of material properties and rotational errors of the implant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Technology and Construction, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Department of Construction and Production, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Monica Orthopaedic Research Institute (MORE Institute), Antwerp, Belgium mvhaver@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Annemieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Haver
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Roo
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, iMinds Future Health Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Beule
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, iMinds Future Health Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Cauter
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Knee Research, Smith & Nephew, Inc., Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Labey
authors.affiliation: Department of Construction and Production, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Baets
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Technology and Construction, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, iMinds Future Health Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.affiliation: Monica Orthopaedic Research Institute (MORE Institute), Antwerp, Belgium Department of Physical Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Monica Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdonk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010329:Patella / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: In vitro experiment; knee biomechanics; patellofemoral kinematics; patellofemoral pressures; rapid prototyping; trochlear dysplasia