Importance of Patella, Quadriceps Forces, and Depthwise Cartilage Structure on Knee Joint Motion and Cartilage Response During Gait

In finite-element (FE) models of the knee joint, patella is often omitted. We investigated the importance of patella and quadriceps forces on the knee joint motion by creating an FE model of the subject's knee. In addition, depthwise strains and stresses in patellar cartilage with different tissue properties were determined. An FE model was created from subject's magnetic resonance images. Knee rotations, moments, and translational forces during gait were recorded in a motion laboratory and used as an input for the model. Three material models were implemented into the patellar cartilage: (1) homogeneous model, (2) inhomogeneous (arcadelike fibrils), and (3) random fibrils at the superficial zone, mimicking early stages of osteoarthritis (OA). Implementation of patella and quadriceps forces into the model substantially reduced the internal-external femoral rotations (versus without patella). The simulated rotations in the model with the patella matched the measured rotations at its best. In the inhomogeneous model, maximum principal stresses increased substantially in the middle zone of the cartilage. The early OA model showed increased compressive strains in the superficial and middle zones of the cartilage and decreased stresses and fibril strains especially in the middle zone. The results suggest that patella and quadriceps forces should be included in moment- and force-driven FE knee joint models. The results indicate that the middle zone has a major role in resisting shear forces in the patellar cartilage. Also, early degenerative changes in the collagen network substantially affect the cartilage depthwise response in the patella during walking.