Finite-Element Analysis of Bone Stresses on Primary Impact in a Large-Animal Model: The Distal End of the Equine Third Metacarpal

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 7; p. e0159541
• Main Authors: McCarty, Cristin A, Thomason, Jeffrey J, Gordon, Karen D, Burkhart, Timothy A, Milner, Jaques S, Holdsworth, David W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.07.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Arthritis; Biocompatibility; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomedical materials; Bone (subchondral); Bone Density; Bones; Computed tomography; Computer simulation; Contact pressure; Contact stresses; Dentistry; Disease Models, Animal; Engineering schools; Finger; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element method; Grooves; Health aspects; Horses; Impact loads; Impact velocity; Iterative methods; Joint surgery; Joints (Anatomy); Loading; Mathematical models; Mechanical loading; Mechanical properties; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metacarpal; Metacarpal Bones; Metacarpophalangeal Joint; Models, Theoretical; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoarthritis - etiology; Osteoarthritis - pathology; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Pressure; Pressure distribution; Static models; Stress; Stress (Physiology); Stress analysis; Stress concentration; Stress distribution; Stress, Mechanical; Subchondral bone; Three dimensional models; X-Ray Microtomography; Canada; Ontario Canada; Guelph Ontario Canada
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159541

To assess whether the transient stresses of foot impact with the ground are similar to those found during midstance loading and if the location of high stress correlate with the sites most commonly associated with mechanically induced osteoarthritis (OA). We compared impact stresses in subchondral bone between two subject-specific, three-dimensional, finite-element models of the equine metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint-one with advanced OA and one healthy, and with similar published data on the stresses that occur at midstance. Two right MCP joints (third metacarpal and proximal phalanx) were scanned using micro-computed tomography (μCT). Images were segmented, and meshed using modified 10-node quadratic tetrahedral elements. Bone material properties were assigned based on the bone density. An impact velocity of 3.55 m/s was applied to each model and contact pressures and stress distribution were calculated for each. In a separate iteration, the third metacarpal was loaded statically. A sampling grid of 160 equidistant points was superimposed over selected slices, and average peak stresses were calculated for 6 anatomical regions. Within-region maximal peak and average von Mises stresses were compared between healthy and OA bones in both midstance and impact loading. Average impact stresses across all regions, in both locations (palmar and dorsal) were greater in the OA model. Highest impact stresses were located in the dorsal medial condyle in the healthy (12.8 MPa) and OA (14.1MPa) models, and were lowest in the palmar medial and lateral parasagittal grooves in the healthy (5.94 MPa) and OA (7.07 MPa) models. The healthy static model had higher peak (up to 49.7% greater) and average (up to 38.6% greater) stresses in both locations and across all regions compared to the OA static model. Under simulated footfall a trot, loading on the dorsal aspect of the third metacarpal at impact created stresses similar to those found during midstance. The high accelerations that occur under impact loading are likely responsible for creating the high stresses, as opposed to midstance loading where the high stresses are the result of high mass loading. Although the stress magnitudes were found to be similar among the two loading conditions, the location of the high stress loading occurred in sites that are not typically associated with osteoarthritic changes.