Apparent transverse compressive material properties of the digital flexor tendons and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel

Erin K Main; Jessica E Goetz; M James  Rudert; Curtis M Goreham-Voss; Thomas D Brown

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.005

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Apparent transverse compressive material properties of the digital flexor tendons and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel

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Apparent transverse compressive material properties of the digital flexor tendons and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel

Erin K Main, Jessica E Goetz, M James Rudert, Curtis M Goreham-Voss and Thomas D Brown

Journal of biomechanics, Vol.44(5), pp.863-868

03/15/2011

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.005

PMCID: PMC3048925

PMID: 21194695

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3048925View

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Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequently encountered peripheral nerve disorder caused by mechanical insult to the median nerve, which may in part be a result of impingement by the adjacent digital flexor tendons. Realistic finite element (FE) analysis to determine contact stresses between the flexor tendons and median nerve depends upon the use of physiologically accurate material properties. To assess the transverse compressive properties of the digital flexor tendons and median nerve, these tissues from ten cadaveric forearm specimens were compressed transversely while under axial load. The experimental compression data were used in conjunction with an FE-based optimization routine to determine apparent hyperelastic coefficients (μ and α) for a first-order Ogden material property definition. The mean coefficient pairs were μ=35.3kPa, α=8.5 for the superficial tendons, μ=39.4kPa, α=9.2 for the deep tendons, μ=24.9kPa, α=10.9 for the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon, and μ=12.9kPa, α=6.5 for the median nerve. These mean Ogden coefficients indicate that the FPL tendon was more compliant at low strains than either the deep or superficial flexor tendons, and that there was no significant difference between superficial and deep flexor tendon compressive behavior. The median nerve was significantly more compliant than any of the flexor tendons. The material properties determined in this study can be used to better understand the functional mechanics of the carpal tunnel soft tissues and possible mechanisms of median nerve compressive insult, which may lead to the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mechanical Properties

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Median nerve

Flexor tendons

Details

Title: Subtitle: Apparent transverse compressive material properties of the digital flexor tendons and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel
Creators: Erin K Main - Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Jessica E Goetz - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
M James Rudert - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Curtis M Goreham-Voss - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Thomas D Brown - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of biomechanics, Vol.44(5), pp.863-868
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.005
PMID: 21194695
PMCID: PMC3048925
NLM abbreviation: J Biomech
ISSN: 0021-9290
eISSN: 1873-2380
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: name: NIH, award: AR 053899
Language: English
Date published: 03/15/2011
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Record Identifier: 9984040008702771

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