Influence of population variability in ligament material properties on the mechanical behavior of ankle: a computational investigation

• Published in: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 43 - 53
• Main Authors: Liu, Yuanjie, Zhou, Qing, Gan, Shun, Nie, Bingbing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 25.01.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Ankle; Ankle - physiology; ankle ligament; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Computer applications; Computer Simulation; Feasibility studies; Finite element method; finite element modeling; Humans; Investigations; Ligaments; Ligaments, Articular - physiology; load sharing; Material properties; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Models, Biological; Population studies; Population variability; Probability; Rotation; Stiffness; Torque; finite element modeling; load sharing; material properties; biomechanics; Population variability; ankle ligament
• ISSN: 1025-5842; 1476-8259
• DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2019.1699541

Biomechanical behavior of ankle ligaments varies among individuals, with the underlying mechanism at multiple scales remaining unquantified. The present probabilistic study investigated how population variability in ligament material properties would influence the joint mechanics. A previously developed finite element ankle model with parametric ligament properties was used. Taking the typical external rotation as example loading scenario, joint stability of the investigated population was consistently shared by specific ligaments within a narrow tolerance range, i.e. 62.8 ± 8.2 Nm under 36.1 ± 5.7° foot rotation. In parallel, the inherent material variability significantly alters the consequent injury patterns. Three most vulnerable ligaments and the consequent rupture sequences were identified, with the structural weak spot and the following progressive stability loss dominated by the relative stiffness among ligaments. This study demonstrated the feasibility of biofidelic models in investigating individual difference at the material level, and emphasized the importance of probabilistic description of individual difference when identifying the injury mechanism of a broad spectrum.