Evaluation of load transmission to the knee joint in a three-dimensional femur model using a finite element analysis method

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and determine the effects of femoral anteversion (FAV) and femoral neck shaft angles (FNSA) changes on the medial and lateral compartments of the distal femur using finite element analysis (FEA).Methods: The study was designed in two stages. First, the FEA was used to evaluate the imaginary environment (IE). Then, solid models were formed and tested in an experimental environment to validate the three-dimensional (3D) models. Three adult male cadaver femurs were scanned for the IE study. The computed tomography cross-sectional scans were reconstructed to provide a 3D surface model of cancellous and cortical bones. This model was accepted as a basic model, and this model was modified with software to create 42 models by using seven different FAV and six FNSA. These modified models were then analyzed to define mesh structure. The stress values were obtained after the FEA.Results: In the lateral compartment of the distal femur (LCDF), the highest force recorded was 625.47 N, and the lowest force recorded was 239.41 N. In the medial compartment of the distal femur (MCDF), the highest force recorded was 910.59 N and the lowest force recorded was 524.53 N. The standard femoral model (SFM), which had an FNSA of 135° and FAV of 10°, was chosen due to the close resemblance of its anatomic features to human femur. According to SFM, a maximum decrease of 44% and an increase of 47% in LCDF and a maximum decrease of 28% and an increase of 26% in MCDF were observed.Conclusion: In the study, we found that changed FAV and FNSA significantly affected LCDF compared with MCDF.