Mathematical model of osteophyte development with the first attempt to identify a biomechanical parameter

Abstract

The paper presents research on identifying a biomechanical parameter from a theoretical model of changes during osteoarthritis. In vitro experiments were carried out on quasi-3D chondrocyte cultures seeded on corn-starch hydrogel materials and subjected to mechanical stress on a designed and constructed stand. The results were adapted to a mathematical model and calculated on a simplified two-dimensional specimen. Numerical simulations have been performed to illustrate the growth of bone spurs. The observed changes of variables which determine osteophytes are qualitative and more correlated to the real-life observations.