Effects of PCL deficient on biomechanics of knee's cartilage and menisci at different flexion angles

To investigate the response of PCL rupture on the biomechanics of cartilage and menisci, the MR1 images of normal human knee at various flexion angles(0 degrees,25 degrees,60 degrees and 80 degrees)were developed 1.5T and the intact and PCL deficient knee models were built based on these images. Then three different loads were applied on these models for the finite element simulation to obtain the von Mises equivalent stress of cartilages and menisci and the reaction force among them. Based on the four flexion angles finite element simulation in ANSYS11.0, we drew the conclusions that: (1) the reaction forces and equivalent stresses were sensitive to PCL deficient at 0 degrees and 60 degrees degrees, (2) The reaction force and equivalent stress of the lateral components increased at 0 degrees and 60 degrees, while the medial components increased at 0 degree and decreased at 60 degree after PCL deficient.