Finite element study of the biomechanical effects on the rotator cuff under load

Abstract

Rotator cuff injuries account for 50% of shoulder disorders that can cause shoulder pain and reduced mobility. The occurrence of rotator cuff injury is related to the variation in shoulder load, but the mechanical changes in the rotator cuff caused by load remain unclear. Therefore, the mechanical results of the rotator cuff tissue during glenohumeral abduction and adduction were analyzed based on a finite element shoulder model under non-load (0 kg) and load (7.5 kg) conditions. The results showed that the maximum von Mises stress on the supraspinatus muscle was larger than that on the subscapularis, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles during glenohumeral abduction. Compared with the non-load condition, the maximum von Mises stress on the supraspinatus muscle increased by 75% under the load condition at 30° abduction. Under the load condition, the supraspinatus joint side exhibited an average stress that was 32% greater than that observed on the bursal side. The von Mises stress on the infraspinatus muscle was higher than that in other rotator cuff tissues during adduction. The stress on the infraspinatus muscle increased by 36% in the load condition compared to the non-load condition at 30° adduction. In summary, the increased load changed the mechanical distribution of rotator cuff tissue and increased the stress differential between the joint aspect and the bursal aspect of the supraspinatus tendon.

Single-row and double-row shoulder suture techniques, combined with dynamic-static modeling, were employed for finite element analysis of the three-dimensional mechanics of the shoulder joint

“…[11] With the rapid development of digital medicine, the application of nite element analysis (FEA) in the eld of shoulder joints has become increasingly prevalent. [12] Through computer simulation modeling and analysis under different loading conditions, FEA helps overcome the limitations of traditional biomechanics. Currently, researchers have incorporated nite element analysis into the study of shoulder joints, focusing on areas such as the mechanisms of rotator cuff tears and the surgical treatment of such tears.…”

Estimation of the Effects of Achilles Tendon Geometry on the Magnitude and Distribution of Local Strain: A Finite Element Analysis

“…The element numbers of the three models were 8,678 (Mesh 1), 15,998 (Mesh 2), and 23,998 (Mesh 3). If increasing the mesh number led to a change of ≤5% in the maximum displacement, the mesh was considered adequately refined [16,17]. The results demonstrated that the difference between Mesh 1 and Mesh 2 was 6.48%; In each model, the sagittal plane is shown on the left and the frontal plane on the right.…”