Abstract:
Computational mechanics has become an indispensable tool in advancing every area of orthopedic biomechanics, offering profound insights into the complex mechanical function of the human knee joint. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the sophisticated computational models currently employed to analyze the knee's mechanical behavior across various loading and pathological conditions. It begins by summarizing major review articles in related fields, setting the context for the current state of biomechanical modeling. A detailed discussion of the constitutive models for the knee's intricate soft tissues—including cartilage, menisci, and ligaments—is presented to facilitate a deeper understanding of joint modeling, emphasizing their complex mechanical properties, such as viscoelasticity and biphasic behavior, and how these are captured in computational frameworks.
The paper then delves into a thorough review of tibiofemoral joint models, followed by an examination of patellofemoral joint models, dissecting their methodologies and applications. Key aspects of geometry reconstruction procedures, which are fundamental to developing accurate biomechanical models, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the review addresses critical issues pertinent to knee joint modeling, encompassing the challenges of representing complex material responses, validating model predictions against experimental data, and integrating physiological loading conditions. The primary computational approaches, such as finite element analysis (FEA) for detailed stress-strain distributions, multibody dynamics (MBD) for kinematic and kinetic analyses, and fluid-solid interaction (FSI) for simulating lubrication and fluid flow, are thoroughly explored. This comprehensive survey highlights how these advanced biomechanical tools contribute to understanding joint injuries, evaluating surgical interventions, and designing prostheses, ultimately enhancing our knowledge of knee joint mechanobiology and pathology.
