How much does the injury risk between average female and average male anthropometry differ? - A simulation study with open source tools for virtual crash safety assessments.

Differences in injury risk between females and males are often reported in field data analysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in kinematics and injury risks between average female and male anthropometry in two exemplary use cases. A simulation study comprising the newly introduced VIVA+ human body models (HBM) was performed for two use cases. The first use case relates to whiplash associated disorders sustained in rear impacts and the second to femur fractures in pedestrians impacted by passenger cars as field data indicates that females have higher injury risk compared to males in these scenarios. Detailed seat models and a generic vehicle exterior were used to simulate crash scenarios close to those currently tested in consumer information tests. In the evaluations with one of the vehicle seats and one car shape the injury risks were equal for both models. However, the risk of the average female HBM for whiplash associated disorders was 1.5 times higher compared to the average male HBM for the rear impacts in the other seat and 10 times higher for proximal femur fractures in the pedestrian impacts for one of the two evaluated vehicle shapes.. Further work is needed to fully understand trends observed in the field and to derive appropriate countermeasures, which can be performed with the open source tools introduced in the current study.

The quantitative influence of current treatment options on patellofemoral stability in patients with trochlear dysplasia and symptomatic patellofemoral instability - a finite element simulation.

BACKGROUND: Trochlear dysplasia is highly associated with patellofemoral instability. The goal of conservative and surgical treatment is to stabilize the patella while minimizing adverse effects. However, there is no literature investigating the quantitative influence of different treatment options on patellofemoral stability in knees with trochlear dysplasia. We created and exploited a range of finite element models to address this gap in knowledge. METHODS: MRI data of 5 knees with trochlear dysplasia and symptomatic patellofemoral instability were adapted into this previously established model. Vastus medialis obliquus strengthening as well as double-bundle medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and the combination of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and trochleoplasty were simulated. The force necessary to dislocate the patella by 10 mm and fully dislocate the patella was calculated in different flexion angles. FINDINGS: Our model predicts a significant increase of patellofemoral stability at the investigated flexion angles (0°-45°) for a dislocation of 10 mm and a full dislocation after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and the combination of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and trochleoplasty compared to trochleodysplastic (P = 0.01) and healthy knees (P = 0.01-0.02). Vastus medialis obliquus strengthening has a negligible effect on patellofemoral stability. INTERPRETATIONS: This is the first objective quantitative biomechanical evidence supporting the place of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction combined with trochleoplasty in patients with symptomatic patellofemoral instability and trochlear dysplasia type B. Vastus medialis obliquus strengthening has a negligible effect on patellar stability at a low total quadriceps load of 175 N.

Patellofemoral instability in trochleodysplastic knee joints and the quantitative influence of simulated trochleoplasty - A finite element simulation.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral instability is a debilitating condition mainly affecting young patients and has been correlated with trochlear dysplasia. It can occur when the patella is insufficiently guided through its range of motion. Currently, there is no literature describing patellofemoral stability in trochleodysplastic knees and the effect of isolated trochleoplasty on patellofemoral stability. METHODS: The effect of isolated trochleoplasty in trochleodysplastic knees of patients with symptomatic patellofemoral instability was investigated using a quasi-static finite element model. MRI data of five healthy knees were segmented, meshed and a finite element analysis was performed in order to validate the model. A second validation was performed by comparing simulated patellofemoral kinematics to in-vivo values obtained from upright- weight bearing CT scans. Subsequently, five trochleodysplastic knees were modelled before and after simulated trochleoplasty. The force necessary to dislocate the patella by 10 mm and to fully dislocate the patella was calculated in various knee flexion angles between 0 and 45°. FINDINGS: The developed models successfully predicted outcome values within the range of reference values from literature. Lateral stability was significantly lower in trochleodysplastic knees compared to healthy knees. Trochleoplasty was determined to significantly increase the force necessary to dislocate the patella in trochleodysplastic knees to comparable values as in healthy knees. INTERPRETATION: This is the first study to investigate lateral patellofemoral stability in patients with symptomatic patellofemoral instability and dysplasia of the trochlear groove. We confirm that patellofemoral stability is significantly lower in trochleodysplastic knees than in healthy knees. Trochleoplasty increases patellofemoral stability to levels similar to healthy.