The effect of articular geometry features identified using statistical shape modelling on knee biomechanics

Articular geometry in the knee varies widely among people which has implications for risk of injury and pathology. The goals of this work were to develop a framework to systematically vary geometry in a multibody knee model and to use this framework to investigate the effect of morphological features on dynamic knee kinematics and contact mechanics. A statistical shape model of the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints was created from magnetic resonance images of 14 asymptomatic knees. The shape model was then used to generate 37 unique multibody knee models based on -3 to +3 standard deviations of the scores for the first six principal components identified. Each multibody model was then incorporated into a lower extremity musculoskeletal model and the Concurrent Optimization of Muscle Activations and Kinematics (COMAK) routine was used to simulate knee mechanics for overground walking. Changes in articular geometry affected knee function, resulting in differences up to 17° in orientation, 8 mm in translation, 0.7 BW in contact force, and 2.0 MPa in mean cartilage contact pressure. Understanding the relationship between shape and function in a joint could provide insight into the mechanisms behind injury and pathology and the variability in response to treatment.