Sensitivity of femoral strain pattern analyses to resultant and muscle forces at the hip joint.

An automated geometrical preprocessor was developed with the aim of creating three-dimensional finite element models (FEM) of the human femur. On the basis of postprocessed computed tomography data, this preprocessor makes possible rapid, flexible and regular meshing with 'brick' elements. Three different material properties were modelled at the present stage of development. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the strain energy density (SED) patterns of the different femoral parts were most sensitive to the implementation of an iliotibial tract force. The variation of the resultant hip force and abductor force direction within the sagittal plane demonstrated a SED minimum at an anterior inclination of 13 degrees; the variation of the resultant force direction within the frontal plane demonstrated a minimum SED at a medial inclination of 21 degrees relative to the mechanical axis of the lower limb. The orientation of the connecting line between the surface-SED-peaks in the horizontal view was found to be most sensitive to the variation of the resultant force within the sagittal plane.