2026-04-13T05:02:15Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/requestoai:recercat.cat:10230/549172025-12-21T20:46:49Zcom_2072_6col_2072_452954
RECERCAT
author
Giménez Lozano, Marina
2022-11-18T17:02:28Z2022-11-18T17:02:28Z2022
Tutor: Carlos Eduardo Ruiz WillsTreball de fi de grau en BiomèdicaKnee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent forms of arthritis and one of the
leading causes of disability. The pathological traits consist of articular cartilage
degradation and bone thickening, among other factors. Since evaluating the changes in
the cartilage is difficult to accomplish via medical tests, finite element (FE) models are
arising as an alternative. However, they are too simple and do not consider changes
through the gait cycle. Thus, the aim of this project is to evaluate the articular cartilage
response of knee osteoarthritic patients during gait cycle through a FE model, using data
from real patients.
Three knee condition were evaluated: 1) healthy, 2) with OA referred to conservative
treatment, and 3) with OA referred to surgery. For each condition, knee reaction force,
rotation angles and time of full gait cycle was obtained from data of real patients. The
biomechanical response was addressed by using a 3D knee FE model that considers the
femur and tibia as rigid bodies, and the cartilages and menisci as composition-based
materials. Two gait simulations were performed: a) full extension, and b) with angles of
rotation. Emphasis is placed on contact pressure and water and proteoglycan content at
cartilage zones most affected by OA according to clinical observations.
Lateral articular cartilage receives significantly more contact pressure than the medial in
all conditions. Nonetheless, an average pressure difference between both cartilages
changes from 36.86% to 4.92% when cases 1) and 3) are compared. Similar outcomes
were observed water and proteoglycans content. When rotation is considered, OA patients
showed cartilage-cartilage contact, aspect not seen for healthy condition.
Overall, this study provides valuable information for clinician in OA treatment decision
making. Moreover, the effect of the biomechanical environment found in this study on
cartilages cells need to be further study, to develop novel strategies to face knee OA.
©Tots els drets reservats info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Articular Cartilage
Finite Element Model
Gait Cycle
Knee Osteoarthritis
Exploration of articular cartilage biomechanical response during gait of patient with knee
osteoarthritis using finite element models
info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis