S022026 Validation of In Vivo Evaluation of Contact Mechanics of Knee Joint Using Image Registration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate the cartilage contact behavior in the tibiofemoral joint evaluated using an image matching technique. Two human cadaveric knees were used for this study. Each knee underwent CT scanning to create 3D femoral and tibial bone models and MR imaging to create 3D femoral and tibial cartilage layer models. Tactile pressure sensors were inserted into the medial and lateral compartments of the knee. Calibrated biplane radiographic images of the cadaver knee were obtained during axially loaded using a lever arm apparatus. The 3D positions of the femoral and tibial bone models were recovered by matching their projected outlines with the bone contours in biplane radiographs. The contact area and contact depth were determined from the intersection of the femoral and tibial cartilage layer models. The proximity was obtained between the femoral and tibial bone models. The location of the contact area corresponded to that measured with the pressure sensors. The distributions of contact depth and the proximity also corresponded to the pressure distribution. These data indicate that the image registration technique could be used to evaluate the in vivo articular cartilage contact behavior of the knee joints.