Huang Chao-Wei, Wang Yu-Tzu, Chen Chi-An, Lin Chun-Li
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 103, Taiwan.
Bioengineering (Basel). 2025 Jun 27;12(7):705. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering12070705.
This study establishes a standardized geometric model of the tibiotalar joint based on anatomical morphology and validates its statistical representativeness. Using this model, a novel fusion implant was developed and evaluated for its biomechanical performance through nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis compared to traditional fixation methods. A morphological database of the tibiotalar joint was built using 30 computed tomography (CT) scans to determine key dimensional parameters, and a novel fusion implant was designed to match the joint's natural curvature. FE analysis compared three fixation strategies: (1) the novel implant with an anterior plate, (2) the anterior plate alone, and (3) three compression screws. Biomechanical parameters, including joint contact area, micromotion, and stress distribution, were analyzed under simulated loading conditions. The novel implant achieved the highest joint contact area (95.0%) and lowest tibial micromotion (0.033 mm), significantly reducing stress concentration compared to anterior plate fixation (49.8% contact; 0.068 mm micromotion) and compression screws (78.2% contact; 0.355 mm micromotion). Constructing a standardized tibiotalar joint model with verified normal distribution is crucial for ensuring broad implant applicability. FE analysis demonstrated that the novel implant enhances joint contact, reduces micromotion, and optimizes stress distribution, offering a promising approach for improving surgical outcomes in tibiotalar joint fusion.
本研究基于解剖形态建立了标准化的胫距关节几何模型，并验证了其统计学代表性。利用该模型，开发了一种新型融合植入物，并通过非线性有限元（FE）分析与传统固定方法相比，评估了其生物力学性能。使用30例计算机断层扫描（CT）构建胫距关节形态学数据库以确定关键尺寸参数，并设计了一种新型融合植入物以匹配关节的自然曲率。有限元分析比较了三种固定策略：（1）带前板的新型植入物，（2）单独的前板，以及（3）三枚加压螺钉。在模拟加载条件下分析了包括关节接触面积、微动和应力分布在内的生物力学参数。新型植入物实现了最高的关节接触面积（95.0%）和最低的胫骨微动（0.033 mm），与前板固定（49.8%接触；0.068 mm微动）和加压螺钉（78.2%接触；0.355 mm微动）相比，显著降低了应力集中。构建具有经验证的正态分布的标准化胫距关节模型对于确保植入物的广泛适用性至关重要。有限元分析表明，新型植入物可增强关节接触、减少微动并优化应力分布，为改善胫距关节融合手术效果提供了一种有前景的方法。
