Title: Assessing the performances of collision driven numerically-simulated implantation in elbow replacement surgery

Authors: O. Remus Tutunea-Fatan; Joshua H. Bernick; Emily Lalone; Colin P. McDonald; Graham J.W. King; James A. Johnson

Addresses: Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, On., N6A 5B9, Canada ' Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, On., N6A 5B9, Canada ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, On., N6A 4L6, Canada ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, On., N6A 4L6, Canada ' Department of Surgery, Western University, The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, On., N6A 4L6, Canada ' Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Western University, The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, On., N6A 4L6, Canada

Abstract: Total elbow arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure used to replace diseased joints with an implant attempting to restore at least partially the lost functionality of the articulation. Given the relative paucity of studies attempting to simulate implant kinematics during insertion motions, the primary objective of the present study was to assess the feasibility and performances of conventional numerical computer-aided engineering (CAE) techniques in this biomechanical context. The results obtained revealed that while both CAE-driven and experimental navigated implantation techniques will yield comparable FE axis misalignment errors, the numerically-simulated approaches seem to be capable of providing more insight on the motion dynamics/kinematics due to their inherent level of maturity. Based on this, it was concluded that numerically-simulated techniques offer less invasive and more comprehensive means for implant motion control and visualisation, and therefore they should be further perfected for implant design as well as preoperative virtual surgery applications.

Keywords: implant insertion motion; image-based navigated implantation; contact-driven implantation; numerical simulation; flexion-extension; axis alignment; computer-aided engineering; CAE; elbow replacement surgery; total elbow arthroplasty; TER; performance evaluation; implant kinematics; biomechanics; misalignment errors; motion dynamics; motion kinematics; implant motion control; visualisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2013.056697

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2013 Vol.5 No.4, pp.263 - 290

Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article