Biomechanical analysis for osteoarthritis of the ankle

The study of three-dimensional model of the human arthritic ankle joint by the stress freezing photoelastic technique showed regional increases of stress distribution in contact area of the medial side of the talocrural joint and medial shift of the stress distribution center in the subtalar joint. From the study of the ankle joint in a contact stress analysis under a variety of conditions, the possible cause of primary or secondary osteoarthritis is discussed, and the joint instability resulting from lateral collateral ligament injuries might be one of the major cause of the disease. For the treatment of the disease, low tibial osteotomy with ligament plasty is considered to be effective.