Tammy Haut Donahue

A Validated Tibiofemoral Model for Describing Force Distribution

An analytical knee model was developed that calculates the force distribution across the medial and lateral tibial plateaus.   Subject-specific joint geometry is derived from radiographs analyzed with edge detection algorithms.   The cartilage was represented as linear springs and collateral ligaments were modeled as piecewise-linear springs.   Contact force for different loads was collected from three cadaver tibiofemoral knee joints using calibrated sensors to validate the analytical model.   The knee was loaded in varus, valgus and axial situations. The RMS error for the model, normalized to the applied load, was 1.8% .   The model was found to be sensitive to changes in geometry, and to material properties between the plateaus.

This work is part of an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Kenton Kaufman from The Mayo Clinic