A novel 3D-printed clamping interface for the tensile testing of biological specimens.

A novel 3D-printed clamping interface was designed to address challenges associated with the tensile testing of soft biological tissues, particularly specimen slippage and failure at the grips. To improve specimen adherence, four contact patterns, based on retrograde teeth, serrated, atraumatic wavy teeth, and flower patterns, were added to the interface surface. A smooth transition was considered to diminish the likelihood of transverse cutting of specimens.

Does free tendon length influence the injury risk of the Achilles tendon? A finite element study.

Purpose: The Achilles tendon is a common injury site, but anatomical risk factors for injury are relatively unexplored in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate whether changes in free tendon length would influence the results of a simulated rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Methods: Using a previously validated 3D finite element model of the free and aponeurotic Achilles tendon as a basis, two additional finite element models with 25% decreased and increased free tendon lengths were created.

Influence of age-related bone density changes on primary stability in stemless shoulder arthroplasty: a multi-implant finite element study.

Background: Stemless implants were introduced to prevent some of the stem-related complications associated with the total shoulder arthroplasty. Although general requirements for receiving these implants include good bone quality conditions, little knowledge exists about how bone quality affects implant performance. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of age-induced changes in bone density, as a metric of bone quality, in the primary stability of five anatomic stemless shoulder implants using three-dimensional finite element (FE) models.

Progression of partial to complete ruptures of the Achilles tendon during rehabilitation: A study using a finite element model.

Substantial research on complete Achilles tendon ruptures is available, but guidance on partial ruptures is comparatively sparse. Conservative management is considered acceptable in partial tendon ruptures affecting less than 50% of the tendon's width, but supporting experimental evidence is currently lacking. Using a previously validated finite element model of the Achilles tendon, this study aimed to assess whether loading conditions simulating an early functional rehabilitation protocol could elicit progression to a complete rupture in partial ruptures of varying severity.

Influence of the rotator cuff tear pattern in shoulder stability after arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction: a computational analysis.

Objectives: To assess the ability of the arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) in restoring glenohumeral stability in the presence of different preoperative patterns of irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs).

Methods: A computational musculoskeletal (MSK) model of the upper limb was used to simulate isolated SCR and to estimate the stability of the shoulder. Four patterns of preoperative irreparable RCTs were modeled: Supraspinatus (SSP); SSP ​+ ​Subscapularis (SSC); SSP ​+ ​Infraspinatus (ISP); and SSP ​+ ​SSC ​+ ​ISP.