- Internal soft tissue strains are a key factor in the development of Pressure Ulcers, but using Finite Element (FE) analysis in clinical settings is challenging due to high costs and long computation times.
- This study aimed to validate a simpler local FE model of the gluteus region against a more complex 3D FE model, using 26 local FE models to assess patients in a sitting position.
- The results showed a strong correlation between the two model types (R = 0.90, p-value < 0.01), suggesting that ultrasound technology could help integrate simpler FE models into everyday clinical practice for estimating Pressure Ulcer risks.
Pressure ulcers remain a significant concern for individuals with limited mobility and sensory loss, despite advances in prevention strategies.
Current methods for estimating internal mechanical conditions in soft tissues are limited by the need for expensive imaging technologies that often only study single individuals.
This study proposes using low-dose biplanar X-ray, B-mode ultrasound, and optical scans to create personalized models of the buttock, revealing high variability in soft tissue responses and offering a tool for better assessing the risk of pressure ulcers.
Several Finite Element (FE) models of the pelvis are developed to assess pathologies and are used in clinical and industrial settings, but most rely on data from a single individual due to challenges in creating subject-specific meshes.
Hexahedral meshes are preferred for their advantages, yet generating them remains difficult, even with improvements in creating tetrahedral meshes.
This study introduces a method that uses elastic registration and quality corrections to quickly generate accurate hexahedral FE models of pelvises from a set of 120 3D reconstructions based on biplanar X-ray images.