Development of a biomechanical model of the wrist joint for patient-specific model guided surgical therapy planning: Part 1

Abstract

An enhanced musculoskeletal biomechanical model of the wrist joint is presented in this article. The developed computational model features the two forearm bones radius and ulna, the eight wrist bones, the five metacarpal bones, and a soft tissue apparatus. Validation of the model was based on information taken from the literature as well as own experimental passive in vitro motion analysis of eight cadaver specimens. The computational model is based on the multi-body simulation software AnyBody. A comprehensive ligamentous apparatus was implemented allowing the investigation of ligament function. The model can easily patient specific personalized on the basis of image information. The model enables simulation of individual wrist motion and predicts trends correctly in the case of changing kinematics. Therefore, patient-specific multi-body simulation models are potentially valuable tools for surgeons in pre- and intraoperative planning of implant placement and orientation.