Abstract
Mathematical models that predict such variables as joint contact force and stress, muscle force, ligament force and joint kinematics are vital tools in biomechanical analysis. One of the most exciting applications of biomechanical models is in preoperative planning. One example of such an application is the OASIS system, which has been developed to plan knee osteotomies. A knee osteotomy is performed to correct an abnormal distribution of forces in the tibiofemoral joint. The OASIS model predicts the force distribution in the tibiofemoral joint for a particular site and size of bone wedge. By considering many options, the system predicts the optimal site and size of osteotomy. Preoperative planning for this and other procedures is quickly becoming a viable and cost-effective means of improving surgical procedures. Steady advances in joint imaging, bringing about more accurate geometric representations of joint structures, have allowed the development of models that are increasingly complex. A major drawback of models, particularly those used in preoperative planning, is that the accuracy of their predictions has seldom been confirmed. In this paper, the application of a joint simulator for the validation of knee biomechanical models is discussed.
