Finite Element Modeling of the Human Wrist

Biomechanics is the study that investigates the mechanics of human body. There are several field of body biomechanics, such as the in vivo motion analysis, in vitro stability test for the joint, and computer simulation. In joint analysis, the stability testing or motion analysis and computer simulation should be complementary to each other.

The wrist is a very difficult joint to investigate, because of its complex structure. Especially in cadaver testing of the wrist, care must be taken for the setting of the specimen. Otherwise, the results can be different from the natural behavior of the joint. Computer simulation, including finite element model (FEM), is quite important tool to investigate the wrist. However, there are several FEM tools in the market. Researcher(s) is faced to select the modeling type (elastic type, hyperelastic type, or nonelastic type) first, then decides how to put mesh, how are conditions of the contact, bone itself, cartilage, and ligament.

This issue includes the “Special Reviews” of “Finite Element Modeling of the Human Wrist: A Review” described by Drs Mena, Wollstein, Baus, and Yang. They have studied FEM model analysis on the wrist in recent decades (2012–2022) and reviewed 22 papers. They found that most studies evaluated normal wrist mechanics, all modeling the bones, while few studies included cartilage and ligamentous structures in the model. They concluded that the current FEM literature remains incomplete. This issue includes interesting scientific papers, such as the biomechanics of scaphoid nonunion, distal radius fracture, trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis, arthroscopic treatment for scaphoid lunate advanced collapse wrist, treatment of wrist infection, survey for scapholunate reconstruction, and interesting case reports. Don't miss it.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Januar 2024