Cartilage defect location and stiffness predispose the tibiofemoral joint to aberrant loading conditions during stance phase of gait.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The current study quantified the influence of cartilage defect location on the tibiofemoral load distribution during gait. Furthermore, changes in local mechanical stiffness representative for matrix damage or bone ingrowth were investigated. This may provide insights in the mechanical factors contributing to cartilage degeneration in the presence of an articular cartilage defect.

Methods

The load distribution following cartilage defects was calculated using a musculoskeletal model that included tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints with 6 degrees-of-freedom. Circular cartilage defects of 100 mm2 were created at different locations in the tibiofemoral contact geometry. By assigning different mechanical properties to these defect locations, softening and hardening

SUBMITTER: Zevenbergen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6191138 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature