Normative contact mechanics of the ankle Joint: Quantitative assessment utilizing bilateral weightbearing CT

Matthias Peiffer, Samir Ghandour, Nour Nassour, Atta Taseh, Arne Burssens, Gregory Waryasz, Lorena Bejarano-Pineda, Emmanuel Audenaert, Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani, Cristopher W. DiGiovanni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Alterations in ankle's articular contact mechanics serve as one of the fundamental causes of significant pathology. Nevertheless, computationally intensive algorithms and lack of bilateral weightbearing imaging have rendered it difficult to investigate the normative articular contact stress and side-to-side differences. The aims of our study were two-fold: 1) to determine and quantify the presence of side-to-side contact differences in healthy ankles and 2) to establish normative ranges for articular ankle contact parameters. In this retrospective comparative study, 50 subjects with healthy ankles on bilateral weight-bearing CT were confirmed eligible. Segmentation into 3D bony models was performed semi-automatically, and individualized cartilage layers were modelled based on a previously validated methodology. Contact mechanics were evaluated by using the mean and maximum contact stress of the tibiotalar articulation. Absolute and percentage reference range values were determined for the side-to-side difference. Amongst a cohort of individuals devoid of ankle pathology, mean side-to-side variation in these measurements was < 12 %, while respective differences of > 17 % talar peak stress and > 31 % talar mean stress indicate abnormality. No significant differences were found between laterality in any of the evaluated contact parameters. Understanding these values may promote a more accurate assessment of ankle joint biomechanics when distinguishing acceptable versus pathological contact mechanics in clinical practice.
Original languageEnglish
Article number112136
JournalJournal of Biomechanics
Volume168
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2024

Keywords

  • Ankle Joint
  • Computational Biomechanics
  • Contact-Stress
  • Discrete Element Analysis
  • Foot and Ankle Trauma

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