Tibia-Fibula Relative Motion During Gait Cycle by 2D-3D Registration

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopaedics
• Human Movement Analysis

Background:

• Distal tibiofibular joint injuries link to ankle issues; proximal injuries correlate with knee lesions.
• Relative tibia-fibula motion is implicated but not fully understood.
• Precise movement patterns are critical for diagnosing and treating these injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and quantify the relative motion between the tibia and fibula during a normal gait cycle.
• To elucidate the degrees of freedom (DOF) movements between these bones.

Main Methods:

• Utilized CT scans to create 3D models of the tibia and fibula in 16 healthy adults.
• Acquired X-ray images at seven gait cycle points for 3D-2D and 3D-3D model registration.
• Calculated relative DOF movements between the tibia and fibula.

Main Results:

• During heel strike to single-leg stance, fibula plantarflexion/dorsiflexion reached 0.41°, inversion/eversion increased to 0.06°, and internal rotation decreased to 0.5°.
• From single-leg stance to toe-off, plantarflexion/dorsiflexion changes were minimal, eversion decreased to 0.02°, and internal rotation increased to 0.63°.
• Both proximal and distal fibula showed anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and inferior-superior movements, with predominant rotational and shift movements during gait.

Conclusions:

• Internal/external rotation and anterior-posterior/medial-lateral shifts are the primary movements between the tibia and fibula during gait.
• Understanding these precise movements is essential for diagnosing and managing tibiofibular joint injuries.
• Findings provide a quantitative basis for biomechanical models of the lower leg.