A BIOMECHANICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF PROXIMAL TIBIA BONE GRAFTING

Abstract

BONE GRAFTING IS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE WHEREBY MISSING BONE MATERIAL IS REPLACED, WHETHER BY ARTIFICIAL OR NATURAL MATERIALS, HENCE AIDING IN THE HEALING PROCESS AND ALLOWING PROPER HEALING OF COMPLEX FRACTURES OR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERIES. BONE GRAFTING WITH DONOR MATERIAL FROM THE PROXIMAL TIBIA IS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR CLINICAL OPTION. DESPITE THIS, THERE EXISTS SOME DISAGREEMENT IN THE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE USED. TRADEOFFS BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF BONE GRAFT HARVESTED AND TIBIAL STABILITY NEED TO BE QUANTIFIED. MECHNICCAL TESTING ON CADAVERS, AS WELL AS A VALIDATED FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF THE HARVESTED TIBIA, WERE USED TO ASSESS MECHNICAL RISKS OF PROXIMAL TIBIA BONE GRAFTING.