There is a direct correlation between ligament function and the articulating surface of the normal knee, and changes to any of these structures can affect the other. This is also true for knee replacements, where the articulating surface is greatly changed compared to the natural knee. This study investigated the morphometry of healthy knees and proposes a method to predict original normal knee profiles. A variety of mathematical techniques are compared in terms of the accuracy with which they can represent the original knee joint geometry. Additionally, a method of predicting the irregular femoral condyle geometry for an individual knee is described by making use of the mathematical techniques presented, and the accuracy of this method is also investigated. The mathematical approach using B-splines provides flexibility and can accurately describe the complex geometry of the femoral condyles in both the sagittal and transverse planes. It was further found that the condyles are highly asymmetrical; therefore simpler methods cannot portray the condyles sufficiently and are especially inaccurate in representing the lateral condyle. The study proposes a method for predicting the geometry of the femoral condyles with good accuracy. The B-spline model showed best results.
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e-mail: dawie@sun.ac.za
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June 2011
Technical Briefs
Mathematical Reconstruction of Human Femoral Condyles
Dawie J. van den Heever,
Dawie J. van den Heever
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,
e-mail: dawie@sun.ac.za
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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Cornie Scheffer,
Cornie Scheffer
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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Pieter Erasmus,
Pieter Erasmus
Knee Clinic Stellenbosch,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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Edwin Dillon
Edwin Dillon
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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Dawie J. van den Heever
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
e-mail: dawie@sun.ac.za
Cornie Scheffer
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Pieter Erasmus
Knee Clinic Stellenbosch,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Edwin Dillon
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
University of Stellenbosch
, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
J Biomech Eng. Jun 2011, 133(6): 064504 (5 pages)
Published Online: June 22, 2011
Article history
Received:
November 17, 2010
Revised:
May 10, 2011
Posted:
May 30, 2011
Published:
June 22, 2011
Online:
June 22, 2011
Citation
van den Heever, D. J., Scheffer, C., Erasmus, P., and Dillon, E. (June 22, 2011). "Mathematical Reconstruction of Human Femoral Condyles." ASME. J Biomech Eng. June 2011; 133(6): 064504. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004314
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