Rapid X-Ray-Based 3-D Finite Element Modeling of Medial Knee Joint Cartilage Biomechanics During Walking

• Published in: Annals of biomedical engineering Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 666 - 679
• Main Authors: Jahangir, Sana, Mohammadi, Ali, Mononen, Mika E., Hirvasniemi, Jukka, Suomalainen, Juha-Sampo, Saarakkala, Simo, Korhonen, Rami K., Tanska, Petri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomechanics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Biomedicine; Biophysics; Cartilage; Cartilage diseases; Classical Mechanics; Computed tomography; Finite element method; Gait; Joints (anatomy); Knee; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mathematical models; Medical imaging; Modelling; Original; Original Article; Osteoarthritis; Statistical analysis; Three dimensional models; X ray imagery; Atlas-based modeling; Planar radiography; Finite element modeling; Knee osteoarthritis; Articular cartilage; Magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0090-6964; 1573-9686
• DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02941-0

Finite element (FE) modeling is becoming an increasingly popular method for analyzing knee joint mechanics and biomechanical mechanisms leading to osteoarthritis (OA). The most common and widely available imaging method for knee OA diagnostics is planar X-ray imaging, while more sophisticated imaging methods, e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), are seldom used. Hence, the capability to produce accurate biomechanical knee joint models directly from X-ray imaging would bring FE modeling closer to clinical use. Here, we extend our atlas-based framework by generating FE knee models from X-ray images ( N = 28). Based on measured anatomical landmarks from X-ray and MRI, knee joint templates were selected from the atlas library. The cartilage stresses and strains of the X-ray-based model were then compared with the MRI-based model during the stance phase of the gait. The biomechanical responses were statistically not different between MRI- vs. X-ray-based models when the template obtained from X-ray imaging was the same as the MRI template. However, if this was not the case, the peak values of biomechanical responses were statistically different between X-ray and MRI models. The developed X-ray-based framework may pave the way for a clinically feasible approach for knee joint FE modeling.