Title: Effects of Varus/Valgus rotation deficiency on the response of total knee prostheses

Authors: Hajer Ketata; Abdelkader Krichen; Maher Dammak

Addresses: Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Laboratoire des Systèmes Electromécaniques, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Tunisia ' Institut supérieur des sciences appliquées et technologiques de GAFSA, Unité de recherche de Génie de Production Mécanique et Matériaux, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Tunisia ' Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Laboratoire des Systèmes Electromécaniques, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: This study analysed the effect of the Varus/Valgus (V/V) rotation deficiency on the mechanical response of Total Knee Replacement (TKR) prostheses under compression loading test. 3D Finite Element (FE) models using ABAQUS program and an experimental apparatus are developed. Two cases are considered: first, femoral component is allowed to move vertically only (Constrained Femoral Rotation - CFR); second, femoral component is allowed to move vertically and is unconstrained to (V/V) rotate (UNconstrained Femoral Rotation - UNCFR). Reaction force, displacement, contact area and stress distribution in the medial and lateral compartments have been investigated. The deficiency mobility is driven an increase of the stiffness prosthesis 16% at 3000 N, disequilibrium in the reaction force distribution between the medial and lateral compartment, increase of stress concentration and an increase of the contact area. These results depend on the contact geometry and the initial contact location.

Keywords: biomechanical engineering; tibiofemoral contact; Varus/Valgus rotation; finite element method; FEM; experience; total knee replacement; knee prostheses; compression loading; modelling; femoral rotation; reaction force; displacement; contact area; stress distribution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2013.055668

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2013 Vol.11 No.4, pp.381 - 393

Received: 07 Jul 2012
Accepted: 12 Mar 2013

Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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