Computer Determination of Contact Stress Distribution and Size of Weight Bearing Area in the Human Hip Joint

• Published in: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 185 - 192
• Main Authors: Iglič, Aleš, Kralj-Iglič, V., Daniel, M., Maček-Lebar, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 2002
• Subjects: Bone Diseases, Developmental - diagnostic imaging; Bone Diseases, Developmental - physiopathology; Computer Simulation; Contact Stress Distribution; Hip Joint; Hip Joint - diagnostic imaging; Hip Joint - physiopathology; Humans; Models, Biological; Posture - physiology; Radiograph; Radiography; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics as Topic; Stress, Mechanical; Weight-Bearing - physiology
• ISSN: 1025-5842; 1476-8259
• DOI: 10.1080/10255840290010300

The mathematical models and the corresponding computer program for determination of the hip joint contact force, the contact stress distribution, and the size of the weight bearing area from a standard anteroposterior radiograph are described. The described method can be applied in clinical practice to predict an optimal stress distribution after different operative interventions in the hip joint and to analyze the short and long term outcome of the treatment of various pathological conditions in the hip. A group of dysplastic hips and a group of normal hips were examined, with respect to the peak contact stress normalized by the body weight, and with respect to the functional angle of the weight bearing area. It is shown that both these parameters can be used in the assessment of hip dysplasia.