Computer‐aided Design of Distal Femoral Osteotomy for the Valgus Knee and Effect of Correction Angle on Joint Loading by Finite Element Analysis. Issue 11 (24th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yanfei; Jin, Xin; Zhao, Xingwen; Wang, Ying; Bai, Haohao; Lu, Bin; Tong, Xue; Ma, Jianxiong; Ma, Xinlong
• Is Part Of: Orthopaedic surgery. Volume 14:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 2904
• Page End: 2913
• Publication Date: 2022-09-24
• Subjects: Cartilage -- Finite element analysis -- Meniscus -- Shear stress -- Von Mises; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedics -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; 617.47005
• DOI: 10.1111/os.13440
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-7853

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Lateral open‐wedge distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) has been used to treat valgus deformity of the knee, with good clinical outcomes. However, there is a lack of biomechanical studies regarding the angle of correction. The objective of this study was to apply computer‐aided design (CAD) for osteotomy planning in a three‐dimensional (3D) anatomical model and to assess the biomechanical differences among the varying correction angles on joint loading by finite element analysis (FEA). Methods: To model different angles of lateral open‐wedge DFO correction, the CAD software package Mimics 21.0 was used to accurately simulate the operated knee. The femur was cut to 0°, 2°, 4°, 6°, 8°, and 10° of varus (equivalent to hip‐knee‐ankle angles of 180°, 178°, 176°, 174°, 172°, and 170°, respectively). The original knee model and the corrected models were processed by FE software. Then, the FE models were subjected to an axial force to obtain the von Mises stress (VMS) and shear stress distributions within the femoral cartilages and menisci. Results: Under a compressive load of 740 N, the highest VMS in lateral and medial compartments of the intact knee model was 3.418 and 3.303 MPa. The maximum value of both the VMS and the shear stress in the lateral compartment decreased as the varus angle increased, but the corresponding values in the medial compartment increased. When the hip‐knee‐ankle (HKA) angle was 180°, the VMS in the lateral and medial compartments was balanced (3.418 and 3.303 MPa, respectively). Meanwhile, when the HKA angle was 178° (3.488 and 3.625 MPa, respectively), the shear stress in the lateral and medial compartments was balanced. In addition, the magnitude of change in the stress was significantly higher in the medial compartment (90.9%) than in the lateral compartment (19.3%). Conclusion: The optimal correction angle of the valgus knee is close to neutral alignment or slightly varus (0° ‐ 2°). Overcorrection is not recommended, as it can result in a steep increase of the stress within the medial compartment and may accelerate the process of medial compartment OA. Abstract : This study combined computer‐aided design (CAD) with finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the effect of simulated lateral open‐wedge distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) with varying correction angles on stress distributions within the cartilages and meniscus. This individualized non‐invasive analysis of stress distribution provided a promising novel approach for clinical evaluation of the mechanical loading of cartilage and meniscus.