Building participant-specific biomechanical models of the knee through the integration of dynamic computed tomography images and biomechanics lab data.

OA is expected to be the most prevalent disease in the Netherlands by 2040 .
The knee is the most common joint affected by OA, and knee OA is responsible
for more physical disability than any other disease among older adults. Knee OA
is predominantly held to be caused by biomechanical factors that lead to
increases in cartilage stress. Current methods used to evaluate knee
biomechanics contain substantial error due to factors such as skin motion
artefact, and often ignore biomechanics of the patellofemoral joint, preventing
accurate estimates of cartilage stress. Novel methods are urgently needed to
quantify both tibiofemoral and patellofemoral movements and forces in order to
accurately and precisely measure knee cartilage stress.

Our primary aim is to develop methods and assess the feasibility of creating a
participant-specific biomechanical model of the knee that integrates
biomechanics data with dynamic computed tomography (CT) imaging data to
determine 3D tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint force vectors. Our secondary
aims are to quantify knee cartilage stress distributions as a function of boney
alignment, movement and forces; and to quantify skin motion artefact during
knee movements.

This technical development uses a cross-sectional observational design
involving not more than five volunteers

Participants will visit two locations for complete data analysis, in total
requiring approximately 2 hours of their time plus travel. Dynamic CT scans
will be acquired at IJssellandziekenhuis, this session takes approximately 45
minutes. The CT scan protocol will give a very low total dose of radiation of
approximately 0.5 mSv, the risk of this dosage is negligible. For comparison, a
normal CT scan of the hip is 3 mSv and the thorax is 18 mSv (22). The yearly
exposure to radiation from natural sources in the Netherlands is approximately
2 mSv. Biomechanics data collection will take place at TU Delft, this session
takes approximately 75 minutes. Participants will be asked to perform 3 to 5
trials each of simple tasks: slowly bending and straightening their knee,
squatting, and walking at a self-selected pace. These are tasks well within
what would be considered a usual daily activity, and the risk is thus
negligible.