Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments

Abstract Preclinical testing of total knee replacements (TKR) is crucial for evaluating new implant designs. Dynamic experimental testing focus mostly on level walking and squats, failing to represent a full range of daily activities. Moreover, the contribution of the ligament apparatus is often sim...

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Main Authors: Paul Henke, Leo Ruehrmund, Jessica Hembus, Sven Krueger, Rainer Bader, Maeruan Kebbach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95400-4
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author Paul Henke
Leo Ruehrmund
Jessica Hembus
Sven Krueger
Rainer Bader
Maeruan Kebbach
author_facet Paul Henke
Leo Ruehrmund
Jessica Hembus
Sven Krueger
Rainer Bader
Maeruan Kebbach
author_sort Paul Henke
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Preclinical testing of total knee replacements (TKR) is crucial for evaluating new implant designs. Dynamic experimental testing focus mostly on level walking and squats, failing to represent a full range of daily activities. Moreover, the contribution of the ligament apparatus is often simplified. Therefore, this study transferred five daily activity load cases—level walking, downhill walking, stair descent, squat, and sit-to-stand—onto a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator with a cruciate-retaining bicondylar TKR and a virtual ligament apparatus. Forces and kinematics were based on telemetric data from an ultra-congruent TKR. The resulting kinematics, kinetics, and tibiofemoral contact surfaces were evaluated. Additionally, variations of the virtual ligament apparatus on the joint simulator, e.g. resection of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), have been used to assess its influence on the resulting joint dynamics. Results showed that tibiofemoral contact area was more influenced by dynamics than kinematics. Virtual PCL resection shifted the tibia posteriorly (up to 3 mm) and increased abduction (up to 0.5°). Different results were seen across all load cases. The exceptions are the squat and sit-to-stand load cases with similar patterns. Thus, cruciate-retaining TKR can be tested using telemetric data from ultra-congruent TKR, aiding in comprehensive evaluations.
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spelling doaj-art-d36ca8e7002640418552d7fa94bba4662025-08-20T03:40:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-95400-4Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligamentsPaul Henke0Leo Ruehrmund1Jessica Hembus2Sven Krueger3Rainer Bader4Maeruan Kebbach5Department of Orthopaedics, Rostock University Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedics, Rostock University Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedics, Rostock University Medical CenterResearch and Development, Aesculap AGDepartment of Orthopaedics, Rostock University Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedics, Rostock University Medical CenterAbstract Preclinical testing of total knee replacements (TKR) is crucial for evaluating new implant designs. Dynamic experimental testing focus mostly on level walking and squats, failing to represent a full range of daily activities. Moreover, the contribution of the ligament apparatus is often simplified. Therefore, this study transferred five daily activity load cases—level walking, downhill walking, stair descent, squat, and sit-to-stand—onto a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator with a cruciate-retaining bicondylar TKR and a virtual ligament apparatus. Forces and kinematics were based on telemetric data from an ultra-congruent TKR. The resulting kinematics, kinetics, and tibiofemoral contact surfaces were evaluated. Additionally, variations of the virtual ligament apparatus on the joint simulator, e.g. resection of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), have been used to assess its influence on the resulting joint dynamics. Results showed that tibiofemoral contact area was more influenced by dynamics than kinematics. Virtual PCL resection shifted the tibia posteriorly (up to 3 mm) and increased abduction (up to 0.5°). Different results were seen across all load cases. The exceptions are the squat and sit-to-stand load cases with similar patterns. Thus, cruciate-retaining TKR can be tested using telemetric data from ultra-congruent TKR, aiding in comprehensive evaluations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95400-4Total knee replacementBiomechanical testingSix-degree-of-freedom joint simulatorActivities of daily livingLigament apparatus
spellingShingle Paul Henke
Leo Ruehrmund
Jessica Hembus
Sven Krueger
Rainer Bader
Maeruan Kebbach
Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
Scientific Reports
Total knee replacement
Biomechanical testing
Six-degree-of-freedom joint simulator
Activities of daily living
Ligament apparatus
title Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
title_full Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
title_fullStr Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
title_full_unstemmed Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
title_short Transfer of patients’ tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
title_sort transfer of patients tibiofemoral kinematics and loads to a six degree of freedom 6 dof joint simulator under consideration of virtual ligaments
topic Total knee replacement
Biomechanical testing
Six-degree-of-freedom joint simulator
Activities of daily living
Ligament apparatus
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95400-4
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