The effect of talus osteochondral defects of different area size on ankle joint stability: a finite element analysis

Abstract

Background Osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT) is one of the most common ankle injuries, which will lead to biomechanical changes in the ankle joint and ultimately affect ankle function. Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to clarify the effect of talus osteochondral defects on the stability of the ankle joint at different depths. However, no research has been conducted on talus osteochondral defect areas that require prompt intervention. In this research, FEA was used to simulate the effect of the area size of talus osteochondral defect on the stress and stability of the ankle joint under a specific depth defect. Methods Different area sizes (normal, 2 mm* 2 mm, 4 mm* 4 mm, 6 mm* 6 mm, 8 mm* 8 mm, 10 mm* 10 mm, and 12 mm* 12 mm) of the three-dimensional finite element model of osteochondral defects were established. The model was used to simulate and calculate joint stress and displacement of the articular surface of the distal tibia and the proximal talus when the ankle joint was in the heel-strike, midstance, and push-off phases. Results When OLT occurred, the contact pressure of the articular surface, the equivalent stress of the proximal talus, the tibial cartilage, and the talus cartilage did not change significantly with an increase in the size of the osteochondral defect area when the heel-strike phase was below 6 mm * 6 mm. Gradual increases started at 6 mm * 6 mm in the midstance and push-off phases. Maximum changes were reached when the defect area size was 12 mm * 12 mm. The same patterns were observed in the talus displacement. Conclusions The effect of the defect area of the ankle talus cartilage on the ankle biomechanics is evident in the midstance and push-off phases. When the size of the defect reaches 6 mm * 6 mm, the most apparent change in the stability of the ankle joint occurs, and the effect does not increase linearly with the increase in the size of the defect.

Biomechanical application of finite elements in the orthopedics of stiff clubfoot

“…Implementing finite element models to calculate the biomechanical properties inside the foot is feasible and effective [ 26 , 27 ]. The most significant advantage of 3D finite element models is that they avoid direct invasive experiments on the human body to quantitatively assess the complex biomechanical characteristics of the foot and ankle at a lower cost [ 28 ], especially for biomechanical studies of articular cartilage [ 29 , 30 ]. In the present study, based on previous studies of foot and ankle finite element biomechanics [ 31 , 32 ], a finite element model of the foot and ankle based on an actual patient with stiff clubfoot was developed and validated by the Footwork Pro® plantar pressure plate system under static standing conditions.…”