Predicting Hip Deformations Through Computer Modeling and Simulation

Friday, 14 February 2014
Grand Ballroom E (Hyatt Regency Chicago)
Nadia Magnenat Thalmann , MIRALab, University of Geneva, Switzerland and NTU, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
This presentation describes a methodology for the simulation of musculoskeletal disorders.Our clinical study is related to osteoarthritis of the hip, a pathogenesis possibly due to impingements. These bone collisions lead to abnormal joint mechanics which is characterized by contact pressure and stress distribution upon the joint cartilages.

The proposed methodology combines different approaches from modeling to 3D simulation.

The simulation is based on patient-specific anatomical models, where acquisition modalities are non invasive and flexible. Based on static MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data, a discrete deformable models method is used for modeling the organs of the musculoskeletal system. Femoroacetabular movements are estimated using an optical motion capture system and are validated by a dynamic MRI analysis. To achieve accurate deformations, techniques to generate volumetric meshes are developed based on the medial axis information. Finally, a computationally-efficient fast functional joint model is used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the soft tissues. The goal of such a simulation is to allow the investigation of the relevant contact and cartilages deformation under movement, which can be useful for diagnosis, pre- or post- operative planning and training. This will benefit further developments in surgical techniques and minimally invasive procedures. A complete case study has been done on 6 ballerinas who perform daily extreme motions. It was possible to identify the cartilage deformation while a ballerina was dancing. We have also shown a correspondence with the information obtained from  MRI data set.