Patient-specific FE analyses of metatarsal bones with inhomogeneous isotropic material properties

Nir Trabelsi*, Charles Milgrom, Zohar Yosibash

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanical response of human metatarsal bones is of importance in both research and clinical practice, especially when associated with the correction of Hallux Valgus. Verified and validated patient-specific finite-element analysis (FEA) based on CT scans developed for human femurs are extended here to the first and second metatarsal bones.Two fresh-frozen metatarsal #1 and five metatarsal #2 bones from three donors were loaded in-vitro at three different angles. Holes typical to Hallux Valgus correction were then drilled in the bones, which were reloaded until fracture. In parallel, high-order FE models of the bones were created from CT-scans that mimic the experimental setting. We validated the FE results by comparison to experimental observations.Excellent agreement was obtained with R2=0.97 and slope of the regression line close to 1. We also compared the FE predicted fracture load and location for the second metatarsal bones with these measured in the experiment, demonstrating an excellent prediction within 10% difference.After validation of the FE predictions, they were used to investigate the effect of drilled hole position, dimension and the insertion of a metallic device on the mechanical response so to optimize the outcome of the Hallux Valgus correction.This study further substantiates the potential use of FEA in clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-189
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume29
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
IAS-TUM
Ministry of Health, Israel, Bonfix LTD
Technische Universität München
Ministry of Health, State of Israel293 3-00000-7375
Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München

    Keywords

    • Bone biomechanics
    • Computed tomography (CT)
    • Finite element analysis
    • Metatarsal
    • P-FEM

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