Can making parametric finite element models of the knee that include anatomical details important for osteoarthritis improve the clinical effectiveness of treatment methods?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition that impacts synovial joints, particularly the knee joint, impairing patients’ capacity to engage in regular physical activity. Regrettably, there is no remedy for this musculoskeletal condition. Currently, numerous researchers focus on developing ways to model individualized risks for the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis and assess the impact of various conservative preventive measures. Finite element analysis (FEA) is now known as a potential technique for the management of knee osteoarthritis. The FEA pipeline comprises three recognized phases: pre-processing, processing, and post- This study aims to introduce an innovative concept in the customization of knee prosthesis, considering the anatomical characteristics influencing osteoarthritis, to enhance treatment efficacy. We posited that anatomical parameters in simplified knee models can be adjusted so that the estimation of the tissue mechanical response from a parametric model matches that of a model with precise geometry. Consequently, we want to integrate simpler models with individualized modeling to provide successful treatment solutions that will help clinicians identify individuals at high risk of knee OA and provide more conservative treatments for patients.