Knee model of hydrodynamic lubrication during the gait cycle and the influence of prosthetic joint conformity.

Background: The influence of the total joint components' elastic deformation on lubrication is generally accepted, but little is known about the influence of joint conformity under hydrodynamic lubrication based on fluid film interposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate induced pressure and stresses in the knee under fluid film lubrication during the stance phase of walking under various joint conformity conditions.

Methods: A theoretical two-dimensional (2D) geometric model of knee prosthesis contact, with Dirichlet boundary conditions at both edges, and with a conformity index (CI) of 0, 0.