Abstract
A simulation model of the human forearm including the elbow joint, proximal and distal radio-ulnar joint was produced on virtual space from CT and MRI data in this study. This model consisted of four bone components, 22 ligament components, one cartilage component, and three muscle components. Distal radius fracture malunions were reproduced by changing the geometric shape and the position of the radius component and was defined as two patterns: the radial shortening, the dorsal inclination. The effects of distal radius fracture malunions on the forearm rotation were investigated. As a result, in comparison with each model movement, the radial shortening greater than 7.5 mm caused the extension of the distal radioulnar ligaments and restrained the forearm rotation. The dorsal inclination greater than 20 degrees caused the extension of the dorsal deep radioulnar ligament and the displacement of the distal radioulnar joint and restrained the forearm rotation.
