title: The influence and biomechanical role of cartilage split line pattern on tibiofemoral cartilage stress distribution during the stance phase of gait.
abstract: This study presents an evaluation of the role that cartilage fibre 'split line' orientation plays in informing femoral cartilage stress patterns. A two-stage model is presented consisting of a whole knee joint coupled to a tissue-level cartilage model for computational efficiency. The whole joint model may be easily customised to any MRI or CT geometry using free-form deformation. Three 'split line' patterns (medial-lateral, anterior-posterior and random) were implemented in a finite element model with constitutive properties referring to this 'split line' orientation as a finite element fibre field. The medial-lateral orientation was similar to anatomy and was derived from imaging studies. Model predictions showed that 'split lines' are formed along the line of maximum principal strains and may have a biomechanical role of protecting the cartilage by limiting the cartilage deformation to the area of higher cartilage thickness.
authors: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. v.shim@auckland.ac.nz.|Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith Health Institute, School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. v.shim@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Vickie B
authors: VB
authors: Shim
authors: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Thor F
authors: TF
authors: Besier
authors: Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith Health Institute, School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.|School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Lloyd
authors: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Kumar
authors: K
authors: Mithraratne
authors: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Justin F
authors: JF
authors: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013977:Tibia / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cartilage fibre orientation; Cartilage stress distribution; Finite element analysis; Split lines