Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment

Background: Controversies about the rational positioning of the tibial component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) still exist. Previous finite element (FE) studies were rare, and the results varied. This FE study aimed to analyze the influence of the tibial component coronal alignment on...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Guang-Duo Zhu, Wan-Shou Guo, Qi-Dong Zhang, Zhao-Hui Liu, Li-Ming Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2015-01-01
Series:Chinese Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=21;spage=2873;epage=2878;aulast=Zhu
_version_ 1818879827830112256
author Guang-Duo Zhu
Wan-Shou Guo
Qi-Dong Zhang
Zhao-Hui Liu
Li-Ming Cheng
author_facet Guang-Duo Zhu
Wan-Shou Guo
Qi-Dong Zhang
Zhao-Hui Liu
Li-Ming Cheng
author_sort Guang-Duo Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Controversies about the rational positioning of the tibial component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) still exist. Previous finite element (FE) studies were rare, and the results varied. This FE study aimed to analyze the influence of the tibial component coronal alignment on knee biomechanics in mobile-bearing UKA and find a ration range of inclination angles. Methods: A three-dimensional FE model of the intact knee was constructed from image data of one normal subject. A 1000 N compressive load was applied to the intact knee model for validating. Then a set of eleven UKA FE models was developed with the coronal inclination angles of the tibial tray ranging from 10° valgus to 10° varus. Tibial bone stresses and strains, contact pressures and load distribution in all UKA models were calculated and analyzed under the unified loading and boundary conditions. Results: Load distribution, contact pressures, and contact areas in intact knee model were validated. In UKA models, von Mises stress and compressive strain at proximal medial cortical bone increased significantly as the tibial tray was in valgus inclination >4°, which may increase the risk of residual pain. Compressive strains at tibial keel slot were above the high threshold with varus inclination >4°, which may result in greater risk of component migration. Tibial bone resection corner acted as a strain-raiser regardless of the inclination angles. Compressive strains at the resected surface slightly changed with the varying inclinations and were not supposed to induce bone resorption and component loosening. Contact pressures and load percentage in lateral compartment increased with the more varus inclination, which may lead to osteoarthritis progression. Conclusions: Static knee biomechanics after UKA can be greatly affected by tibial component coronal alignment. A range from 4° valgus to 4° varus inclination of tibial component can be recommended in mobile-bearing UKA.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T14:36:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-669edd2f1f5443ae921df94e69ac0652
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0366-6999
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T14:36:16Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
record_format Article
series Chinese Medical Journal
spelling doaj.art-669edd2f1f5443ae921df94e69ac06522022-12-21T20:17:15ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992015-01-01128212873287810.4103/0366-6999.168044Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal AlignmentGuang-Duo ZhuWan-Shou GuoQi-Dong ZhangZhao-Hui LiuLi-Ming ChengBackground: Controversies about the rational positioning of the tibial component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) still exist. Previous finite element (FE) studies were rare, and the results varied. This FE study aimed to analyze the influence of the tibial component coronal alignment on knee biomechanics in mobile-bearing UKA and find a ration range of inclination angles. Methods: A three-dimensional FE model of the intact knee was constructed from image data of one normal subject. A 1000 N compressive load was applied to the intact knee model for validating. Then a set of eleven UKA FE models was developed with the coronal inclination angles of the tibial tray ranging from 10° valgus to 10° varus. Tibial bone stresses and strains, contact pressures and load distribution in all UKA models were calculated and analyzed under the unified loading and boundary conditions. Results: Load distribution, contact pressures, and contact areas in intact knee model were validated. In UKA models, von Mises stress and compressive strain at proximal medial cortical bone increased significantly as the tibial tray was in valgus inclination >4°, which may increase the risk of residual pain. Compressive strains at tibial keel slot were above the high threshold with varus inclination >4°, which may result in greater risk of component migration. Tibial bone resection corner acted as a strain-raiser regardless of the inclination angles. Compressive strains at the resected surface slightly changed with the varying inclinations and were not supposed to induce bone resorption and component loosening. Contact pressures and load percentage in lateral compartment increased with the more varus inclination, which may lead to osteoarthritis progression. Conclusions: Static knee biomechanics after UKA can be greatly affected by tibial component coronal alignment. A range from 4° valgus to 4° varus inclination of tibial component can be recommended in mobile-bearing UKA.http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=21;spage=2873;epage=2878;aulast=ZhuFinite Element Analysis; Inclination; Mobile-bearing; Strain; Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
spellingShingle Guang-Duo Zhu
Wan-Shou Guo
Qi-Dong Zhang
Zhao-Hui Liu
Li-Ming Cheng
Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
Chinese Medical Journal
Finite Element Analysis; Inclination; Mobile-bearing; Strain; Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
title Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
title_full Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
title_fullStr Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
title_full_unstemmed Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
title_short Finite Element Analysis of Mobile-bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Influence of Tibial Component Coronal Alignment
title_sort finite element analysis of mobile bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty the influence of tibial component coronal alignment
topic Finite Element Analysis; Inclination; Mobile-bearing; Strain; Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
url http://www.cmj.org/article.asp?issn=0366-6999;year=2015;volume=128;issue=21;spage=2873;epage=2878;aulast=Zhu
work_keys_str_mv AT guangduozhu finiteelementanalysisofmobilebearingunicompartmentalkneearthroplastytheinfluenceoftibialcomponentcoronalalignment
AT wanshouguo finiteelementanalysisofmobilebearingunicompartmentalkneearthroplastytheinfluenceoftibialcomponentcoronalalignment
AT qidongzhang finiteelementanalysisofmobilebearingunicompartmentalkneearthroplastytheinfluenceoftibialcomponentcoronalalignment
AT zhaohuiliu finiteelementanalysisofmobilebearingunicompartmentalkneearthroplastytheinfluenceoftibialcomponentcoronalalignment
AT limingcheng finiteelementanalysisofmobilebearingunicompartmentalkneearthroplastytheinfluenceoftibialcomponentcoronalalignment