Thesis
Variations in contact stresses on the distal tibial articular surfaces following intra-articular fracture reduction
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006366
Abstract
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) poses a risk to individuals of all ages and activity levels, and it is especially common to those sustaining an intra-articular fracture. Variations in the accuracy of fracture reconstruction can result in altered joint mechanics due to residual incongruities of the articular surface. To investigate the link between altered contact mechanics as a result of fracture reduction accuracy and future development of PTOA, we developed a reproducible modeling technique for the talocrural joint of pigs with either an anatomic or step-off reduction of an intra-articular fracture. Differing modeling techniques provided insight into the need for specimen-specific Young’s modulus versus a constant Young’s modulus based on species average. The quality of fracture reduction was associated with elevations in contact stress; those joints with the most incongruity, measured by the amount of articular step-off, had the highest amount of joint area reporting high contact stresses. These data describing contact stress distributions are valuable to those looking to link cartilage mechanics to biological phenomena.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Variations in contact stresses on the distal tibial articular surfaces following intra-articular fracture reduction
- Creators
- Winter Josephine Philibert
- Contributors
- Jessica Goetz (Advisor)David Wilder (Committee Member)Edward Sander (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Biomedical Engineering
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006366
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- x, 73 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2022 Winter Josephine Philibert
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (chiefly color), tables, graphs
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 60-64).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
- Degeneration of joints affects every race, ethnicity, age, and activity level, leading to long-term pain and disability. While there is presently no cure for joint degeneration, referred to as osteoarthritis, there exist current treatments to mitigate symptoms. Anyone having suffered a fracture of a joint is at high risk for developing a specific type of osteoarthritis known as post- traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Reasons for the progression of PTOA after a joint fracture are relatively unknown and hard to elucidate in the general population. However, monitoring the timing and disease progression within an animal model, such as the minipig, is simpler and findings are translatable to humans. In our study of joint fractures in a minipig, we studied the effects of accuracy of fracture reconstruction on stresses felt by the tissues within the joint. Our study found that joints with more incongruity due to poor reconstruction accuracy had higher stresses, which may result in a higher risk of developing PTOA. It is our future goal to compare these stress predictions with microscopic analysis of joint tissue to determine the damage done by the incongruity.
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984271451102771
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