Investigation of osteochondral disease through finite element modeling

项目描述（由申请人提供）：本项目将工程科学与生命科学相结合，以促进对关节损伤和退行性关节疾病的发病机制、危险因素和潜在治疗和预防方法的科学理解，以提高这些疾病的医疗保健水平。肌肉骨骼疾病，其中骨关节炎（OA）是最常见的，是美国残疾的主要原因之一。2002-2011年十年被宣布为骨骼和关节十年，这一事实说明了这些疾病的重要性。它们影响男性和女性，老年人和年轻人，人类和家畜物种。有许多危险因素，其中一些无法控制，如遗传、性别和年龄，但其他可以操纵，如肌肉无力和关节构象。马和人类一样，都是运动员，也有类似的关节损伤和疾病，如软骨下骨坏死、骨折和骨关节炎。因此，这一建议使用马作为人类疾病的模型。本提案的具体目标集中在三个方面：1)使用有限元（FE）方法开发马掌指关节的计算机模型；2)特定关节参数（如接触面积）与骨质量测量的相关性；3)应用有限元模型研究关节几何在骨软骨疾病中的作用。通过开发和验证计算机模型，可以单独控制和研究各种因素，并结合起来确定它们与关节损伤和退变的可能相关性和贡献，从而关注临床

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal integrates engineering sciences with the life sciences in order to advance scientific understanding of the pathogenesis, risk factors, and potential methods for treatment and prevention of joint injury and degenerative joint disease, with the goal of enhancing medical care of these diseases. Musculoskeletal diseases, of which osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common, are one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. The importance of these diseases is illustrated by the fact that the decade 2002-2011 has been declared the Bone and Joint Decade. They affect men and women, old and young, humans and domestic animal species. There are many risk factors, some of which cannot be controlled such as genetics, gender, and age, but others can be manipulated such as muscle weakness and joint conformation. Horses, like humans, are athletes and are subject to similar joint injuries and diseases such as subchondral bone necrosis, fracture, and OA. Therefore, this proposal uses the horse as a model for human disease. The specific aims of this proposal are focused into 3 areas: 1) The development of a computer model of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint using the finite element (FE) method; 2) The correlation of specific joint parameters such as contact area to measures of bone quality; 3) The application of the FE model to study the role of joint geometry in osteochondral disease. By developing and validating a computer model, various factors can be controlled and investigated separately and in conjunction to determine their possible relevance and contribution to joint injury and degeneration and thus focus clinical research on the most promising factors related to the initiation and progression of osteochondral disease. This same model can then be used to examine methods of treatment and prevention. For example, it can be used to investigate how orthotics or surgery can alter biomechanical loading within a joint in order to minimize areas of stress concentrations that can lead to abnormal bone modeling or how muscle strengthening can stabilize a lax joint. While the actual techniques and computer model will be developed using a horse, the information gained will benefit not only the horse, but humans as well by increasing the overall understanding of osteochondral disease. The horse as a research animal can allow for invasive testing for validation of the model. In addition, this research will set the framework for using similar techniques in human medicine. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal will enhance the understanding of the processes and risk factors underlying degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. With a greater understanding of these diseases, advancements in their treatment and prevention can be made.