Temporal fascia function during human growth: biomechanical modelling to predict the impact of surgical intervention

人类生长过程中的颞筋膜功能：预测手术干预影响的生物力学模型

• 批准号: BB/X006867/1
• 负责人: Alana Sharp
• 金额: $ 48.34万
• 依托单位: University of Liverpool
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FX006867%2F1
• 关键词: Temporal; fascia; function; during; human

During growth, hard and soft tissues of the skull interact to influence skull shape as bone remodels in response to mechanical loading. However, the soft tissues that generate loads are not limited to the jaw closing musculature (temporalis, masseter, and pterygoids), but also consist of complex ligaments, tendons and fascial layers. One particularly overlooked and/or understudied structure is the temporal fascia. The temporal fascia covers the entire temporalis muscle on the side of our head, aiding in jaw movement and chewing, and potentially has a suite of functions to redistribute craniofacial strain, from directing temporalis muscle force, to limiting bending of the zygomatic arch (cheek bone) and orbit induced by the force of the masseter muscle.To date, the structure and function of the temporal fascia have only been investigated in a handful of studies, limiting our understanding of its functional significance. However, there is growing evidence from experimental studies, histology and mechanical testing, suggesting a more functionally significant role of the temporal fascia during growth and normal jaw function. Experimental work conducted in the 1960's showed distinct bone shape changes of the zygomatic arch in Cebus monkeys following permanent detachment of the temporal fascia. However, the impact of removal of the temporal fascia from the zygomatic arch during craniofacial surgery in children, a common procedure for patients with craniosynostosis, has not been investigated.Computational biomechanical models provide a promising non-invasive method of investigating bone responses to external loads. Industries such as the automotive and aerospace engineering, have implemented computational modelling into the design pipeline, saving money with simulations instead of production. The medical and health industry have started using biomechanical models to test patient-specific implants, the outcomes of surgery, and to learn more about the loads we experience during running. It is now possible to investigate whether the removal of the temporal fascia in a patient would have a significant impact on stress distribution within the skull, and function of the jaw muscles. This is especially relevant for children who are in a key stage of craniofacial growth when jaw muscles are loaded for the first time.As such, the primary purpose of this project is to explore the function of the temporal fascia, characterising its role during craniofacial growth and chewing, by building, analysing and validating biomechanical models of the human skull and jaw muscles. To date, the temporal fascia has never been incorporated into human computational biomechanical models (e.g., finite element analysis). This may be problematic when investigating jaw joint function and disorders (e.g., tooth grinding or bruxism), as well as temporal fascia function as mentioned above. Omitting the temporal fascia could potentially be impacting the accuracy of biomechanical models and the potential of these models for clinical uses in craniofacial, maxillary and dental surgeries, including where the impact of disruptive surgery to the temporal region is not fully understood. By building these models and exploring the function of the temporal fascia, we hope to provide insight into the impact of removing the temporal fascia during surgery, as well as its general role in normal jaw function and bone growth.

During growth, hard and soft tissues of the skull interact to influence skull shape as bone remodels in response to mechanical loading. However, the soft tissues that generate loads are not limited to the jaw closing musculature (temporalis, masseter, and pterygoids), but also consist of complex ligaments, tendons and fascial layers. One particularly overlooked and/or understudied structure is the temporal fascia. The temporal fascia covers the entire temporalis muscle on the side of our head, aiding in jaw movement and chewing, and potentially has a suite of functions to redistribute craniofacial strain, from directing temporalis muscle force, to limiting bending of the zygomatic arch (cheek bone) and orbit induced by the force of the masseter muscle.To date, the structure and function of the temporal fascia have only been investigated in a handful of studies, limiting our understanding of its functional significance. However, there is growing evidence from experimental studies, histology and mechanical testing, suggesting a more functionally significant role of the temporal fascia during growth and normal jaw function. Experimental work conducted in the 1960's showed distinct bone shape changes of the zygomatic arch in Cebus monkeys following permanent detachment of the temporal fascia. However, the impact of removal of the temporal fascia from the zygomatic arch during craniofacial surgery in children, a common procedure for patients with craniosynostosis, has not been investigated.Computational biomechanical models provide a promising non-invasive method of investigating bone responses to external loads. Industries such as the automotive and aerospace engineering, have implemented computational modelling into the design pipeline, saving money with simulations instead of production. The medical and health industry have started using biomechanical models to test patient-specific implants, the outcomes of surgery, and to learn more about the loads we experience during running. It is now possible to investigate whether the removal of the temporal fascia in a patient would have a significant impact on stress distribution within the skull, and function of the jaw muscles. This is especially relevant for children who are in a key stage of craniofacial growth when jaw muscles are loaded for the first time.As such, the primary purpose of this project is to explore the function of the temporal fascia, characterising its role during craniofacial growth and chewing, by building, analysing and validating biomechanical models of the human skull and jaw muscles. To date, the temporal fascia has never been incorporated into human computational biomechanical models (e.g., finite element analysis). This may be problematic when investigating jaw joint function and disorders (e.g., tooth grinding or bruxism), as well as temporal fascia function as mentioned above. Omitting the temporal fascia could potentially be impacting the accuracy of biomechanical models and the potential of these models for clinical uses in craniofacial, maxillary and dental surgeries, including where the impact of disruptive surgery to the temporal region is not fully understood. By building these models and exploring the function of the temporal fascia, we hope to provide insight into the impact of removing the temporal fascia during surgery, as well as its general role in normal jaw function and bone growth.