Model selection and sensitivity analysis in the biomechanics of soft tissues: A case study on the human knee meniscus

Elmukashfi, Elsiddig; Marchiori, Gregorio; Berni, Matteo; Cassiolas, Giorgio; Lopomo, N.; Rappel, Hussein; Barrera, Olga

doi:10.1016/bs.aams.2022.05.001

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 165 publications

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“…Therefore, in this paper, we employed an SHG via MPM-enabled imaging of collagen fiber morphology to obtain data for constitutive modeling. A wide variety of numerical models of the meniscus tissue have been reported, ranging from simple isotropy to complex anisotropy consideration (Imeni et al, 2020;Elmukashfia et al, 2022). Previous mechanical studies suggested a plane of isotropy for the material properties (Chia and Hull, 2008), which led to models that took transverse isotropy into account (Spilker et al, 1992;LeRoux and Setton, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Region- and layer-specific investigations of the human menisci using SHG imaging and biaxial testing

Rasheed

Ayyalasomayajula

Schaarschmidt

et al. 2023

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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In this paper, we examine the region- and layer-specific collagen fiber morphology via second harmonic generation (SHG) in combination with planar biaxial tension testing to suggest a structure-based constitutive model for the human meniscal tissue. Five lateral and four medial menisci were utilized, with samples excised across the thickness from the anterior, mid-body, and posterior regions of each meniscus. An optical clearing protocol enhanced the scan depth. SHG imaging revealed that the top samples consisted of randomly oriented fibers with a mean fiber orientation of 43.3o. The bottom samples were dominated by circumferentially organized fibers, with a mean orientation of 9.5o. Biaxial testing revealed a clear anisotropic response, with the circumferential direction being stiffer than the radial direction. The bottom samples from the anterior region of the medial menisci exhibited higher circumferential elastic modulus with a mean value of 21 MPa. The data from the two testing protocols were combined to characterize the tissue with an anisotropic hyperelastic material model based on the generalized structure tensor approach. The model showed good agreement in representing the material anisotropy with a mean r2 = 0.92.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, all of the aforementioned constitutive models have been on animal menisci. For a detailed review of the available constitutive models applied to the meniscus tissue and their sensitivity analysis, the reader is redirected to Elmukashfia et al (2022) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region- and layer-specific investigations of the human menisci using SHG imaging and biaxial testing

Rasheed

Ayyalasomayajula

Schaarschmidt

et al. 2023

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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“…These models aim to capture the unique anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of an individual’s knee joint. They are valuable tools in orthopaedic research, clinical decision-making, and surgical planning [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]. However, developing patient-specific finite element models of the knee can be challenging and may require careful consideration to achieve numerical convergence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Image-based parametric finite element modelling for studying contact mechanics in human knee joints

Readioff,

Seil,

Mouton

et al. 2023

Preprint

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PurposeThis study presents a framework for generating patient-specific finite element models, parameterised and optimised for contact mechanics from computed tomography (CT) scans, by avoiding the segmentation step usually employed to transform medical images into 3D models. Two morphological parameters affecting contact mechanics were investigated in the framework development: tibial cartilage thickness and tibial spine height. This study explores the effect of the interplay of these parameters in load sharing between meniscus and articulating cartilage, meniscal posterior and anterior roots strain and menisci kine-matics.MethodsMorphological measurements from four knee CT scans were collected, such as the maximum thickness of the tibial cartilage (ranging from 1.1 to 5.2 mm), the height of the tibial spine (ranging from 3.55 to 10.1 mm), and the width of the tibial plateau in both the coronal (ranging from 27.3 to 36.17 mm) and sagittal (ranging from 31.79 to 53.77 mm) planes. These measurements were taken for the lateral tibial plateau for both left and right knees. Subsequently, three finite element (FE) models were generated, comprising lateral tibial plateaus, lateral femoral condyle and lateral meniscus. The tibial cartilage thickness was kept at a constant value of 1 mm while varying the tibial spine height within the range measured from the CT images. This resulted in three FE models with varying spine heights, categorised as large (height = 7.42 mm), medium (height = 4.25 mm), and small (height = 1.63 mm) tibial spine heights. The menisci in the FE models were generated to be congruent with the tibial plateau. For the first time, this study advances the representations of the knee menisci microstructure in FE modelling, such that we have generated meniscus FE models with three layers of a hyperelastic model in which layer thickness and layer-specific hyperelastic material parameters are derived from our previous experimental work.ResultsThe load sharing between the meniscus and articular cartilage was not sensitive to the varying tibial spine heights. In all three FE models, cartilage carried more than 90% of the applied load. However, the meniscus kinematics and root strains varied considerably with changing tibial spine heights. The small tibial spine height model predicted the highest meniscus movements (8.12 and 9.33 mm in the radial and circumferential directions, respectively) and the highest root strain (21.92 and 22.19 mm/mm in the anterior and posterior roots, respectively).ConclusionOur framework can generate finite element models of patients’ knees using clinical data (i.e., CT scans) without the need for lengthy image segmentation. This process is not only time-efficient but also independent of imaging operators. The models converge quickly (¿30 minutes on 2 cores) using an implicit solver with non-linear geometry and have the capability to predict contact mechanics between the articulating surfaces, meniscus kinematics and root strains. The modelling strategy presented here can provide valuable insights into predicting changes in the mechanics of soft tissues in the knee joint. It is particularly useful for investigating injury and surgical mechanisms related to the meniscus.

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“… Nissinen et al (2021) and Mäkelä et al (2015) studied changes in the articular cartilage’s poroelastic material parameters and fluid flow, which are associated with PG content. A computational modelling study representing the heterogeneous internal architecture of cartilaginous tissues such as knee menisci captured the poroelastic behaviour of the tissue ( Elmukashfi et al, 2022 ). However, the previous computational modelling studies on cartilage and other tissues have not explicitly investigated the role of PGs in tissue mechanics nor included ligaments’ microstructure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proteoglycans play a role in the viscoelastic behaviour of the canine cranial cruciate ligament

Readioff

Geraghty

Kharaz

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Proteoglycans (PGs) are minor extracellular matrix proteins, and their contributions to the mechanobiology of complex ligaments such as the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) have not been determined to date. The CCLs are highly susceptible to injuries, and their extracellular matrix comprises higher PGs content than the other major knee ligaments. Hence these characteristics make CCLs an ideal specimen to use as a model in this study. This study addressed the hypothesis that PGs play a vital role in CCL mechanobiology by determining the biomechanical behaviour at low strain rates before and after altering PGs content. For the first time, this study qualitatively investigated the contribution of PGs to key viscoelastic characteristics, including strain rate dependency, hysteresis, creep and stress relaxation, in canine CCLs. Femur-CCL-tibia specimens (n = 6 pairs) were harvested from canine knee joints and categorised into a control group, where PGs were not depleted, and a treated group, where PGs were depleted. Specimens were preconditioned and cyclically loaded to 9.9 N at 0.1, 1 and 10%/min strain rates, followed by creep and stress relaxation tests. Low tensile loads were applied to focus on the toe-region of the stress-strain curves where the non-collagenous extracellular matrix components take significant effect. Biochemical assays were performed on the CCLs to determine PGs and water content. The PG content was ∼19% less in the treated group than in the control group. The qualitative study showed that the stress-strain curves in the treated group were strain rate dependent, similar to the control group. The CCLs in the treated group showed stiffer characteristics than the control group. Hysteresis, creep characteristics (creep strain, creep rate and creep compliance), and stress relaxation values were reduced in the treated group compared to the control group. This study suggests that altering PGs content changes the microstructural organisation of the CCLs, including water molecule contents which can lead to changes in CCL viscoelasticity. The change in mechanical properties of the CCLs may predispose to injury and lead to knee joint osteoarthritis. Future studies should focus on quantitatively identifying the effect of PG on the mechanics of intact knee ligaments across broader demography.

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Model selection and sensitivity analysis in the biomechanics of soft tissues: A case study on the human knee meniscus

Cited by 11 publications

References 165 publications

Region- and layer-specific investigations of the human menisci using SHG imaging and biaxial testing

Region- and layer-specific investigations of the human menisci using SHG imaging and biaxial testing

Image-based parametric finite element modelling for studying contact mechanics in human knee joints

Proteoglycans play a role in the viscoelastic behaviour of the canine cranial cruciate ligament

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