Simple incision and suture modeling on fixed structured grids.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanical Engineering
• Computational Surgery
• Finite Element Analysis

Background:

• Accurate simulation of surgical procedures like skin suturing is crucial for understanding biomechanics.
• Existing methods may lack flexibility in modeling complex wound geometries and suture placements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, versatile approach for simulating skin incisions and suturing using nonlinear finite element analysis.
• To evaluate the method's accuracy and flexibility in modeling different wound types and surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nonlinear finite element analysis on a fixed structured grid.
• Developed a spring-based suture model with discrete linear constraint relations.
• Introduced incisions and wounds via element removal, avoiding remeshing.

Main Results:

• Successfully simulated elliptical wound closure, analyzing suture number and placement effects.
• Demonstrated versatility using Z-plasty transposition flap simulations, comparing favorably with existing results.
• The discrete suture model captured local stress concentrations effectively.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a versatile and accurate simulation of skin incisions and suturing.
• The discrete suture model provides freedom in placement and captures critical stress concentrations.
• This approach facilitates the study of surgical techniques without the need for remeshing.