Development of a continuum-based, meshless, finite element modeling approach for representation of trabecular bone indentation.

Implant subsidence into the underlying trabecular bone is a common problem in orthopaedic surgeries; however, the ability to pre-operatively predict implant subsidence remains limited. Current state-of-the-art computational models for predicting subsidence have issues addressing this clinical problem, often resulting from the size and complexity of existing subject-specific, image-based finite element (FE) models. The current study aimed to develop a simplified approach to FE modeling of subject-specific trabecular bone indentation resulting from implant penetration.

Smoothed particle hydrodynamics implementation to enhance vertebral fracture finite element model in a cervical spine segment under compression.

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can arise from compression loading when a vertebra fractures and bone fragments are pushed into the spinal canal. Experimental studies have demonstrated the importance of both fracture initiation and post-fracture response in the investigation of vertebral fractures and spinal canal occlusion resulting from compression. Finite element models, such as the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) model, focused on predicting the initiation location of fractures using element erosion to model hard tissue fracture.

Brain Material Properties and Integration of Arachnoid Complex for Biofidelic Impact Response for Human Head Finite Element Model.

Finite element head models offer great potential to study brain-related injuries; however, at present may be limited by geometric and material property simplifications required for continuum-level human body models. Specifically, the mechanical properties of the brain tissues are often represented with simplified linear viscoelastic models, or the material properties have been optimized to specific impact cases. In addition, anatomical structures such as the arachnoid complex have been omitted or implemented in a simple lumped manner.

Spinal Cord Boundary Conditions Affect Brain Tissue Strains in Impact Simulations.

Brain and spinal cord injuries have devastating consequences on quality of life but are challenging to assess experimentally due to the traumatic nature of such injuries. Finite element human body models (HBM) have been developed to investigate injury but are limited by a lack of biofidelic spinal cord implementation. In many HBM, brain models terminate with a fixed boundary condition at the brain stem.

Comparison of numerical methods for cerebrospinal fluid representation and fluid-structure interaction during transverse impact of a finite element spinal cord model.

Spinal cord impacts can have devastating consequences. Computational models can investigate such impacts but require biofidelic numerical representations of the neural tissues and fluid-structure interaction with cerebrospinal fluid. Achieving this biofidelity is challenging, particularly for efficient implementation of the cerebrospinal fluid in full computational human body models.