Abstract:
This paper presents a comprehensive workflow for the development, verification, and application of subject-specific finite element (FE) models of the human tibiofemoral (knee) joint under in vivo loading conditions. The modeling approach integrates anatomical MRI-based geometry, gait-driven boundary conditions, and physiologically accurate material properties to simulate cartilage and ligament mechanics during dynamic tasks such as walking. A novel aspect of the study is the verification of FE model outputs against in vivo tibial contact data obtained using instrumented prosthetic implants, providing a unique validation of contact mechanics in a living joint. The subject-specific models are used to investigate internal knee biomechanics, particularly cartilage contact pressures and ligament force distributions. Through sensitivity analyses and multi-physics simulation, the work highlights the potential of personalized FE models in understanding patient-specific mechanical environments that contribute to joint degeneration or guide surgical planning. This study advances the role of computational biomechanics in clinical orthopedics by offering a validated pipeline from image-based geometry acquisition to simulation-based assessment of joint tissue mechanics.
