A Computer Model Assessment of the Effect of Hindfoot Alignment on Mechanical Axis Deviation and Ankle Fractures

Abstract

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics Introduction/Purpose: Conventional mechanical axis is calculated from the center of the femoral head to the center of the ankle. Mechanical axis deviation of the lower limb can be associated with a pes planus hindfoot. Malalignment of the lower limb has been shown to increase progression of osteoarthritis of the knee and ankle and decrease joint arthroplasty longevity. Clinically, a pes planus hindfoot has also been seen with patients who present with a stress fracture of the lateral malleolus. This biomechanical study aims to utilize computer modeling to evaluate the hypothesis that altered force transmission on the lateral malleolus with resultant stress fractures in a pes planus model is attributable to mechanical axis deviation. Methods: A free-body diagram of the fibula in single leg stance was generated by modeling the fibula as a uniform cylinder. It includes the axially applied load and a single evertor muscle force as an eccentric load applied to the mid-diaphysis . Previously derived relationships between body weight (BW = 667 N, 150lbs) and a) normal axial fibula load (BW*0.17) and b) muscle force (BW*0.25) were used. Fibula length (286.5 mm) and diameter (8 mm) were derived from anthropological data. Mechanical axis deviation in pes planus was simulated in two manners: 1) increased (2 and 3 times normal) axial fibula load and 2) increased evertor muscle force. The compressive stress along the length of the bone was determined through static analysis and the total applied load was compared to theoretical Euler buckling load. Results: Increasing the load on the fibula, either by increasing the axial load (Figure 1A) or the muscle load (Figure 1B), increases the maximum compressive stress below the lateral muscle origins, namely the section between the distal tibiofibular ligaments and the evertor muscles. The compressive stress for both cases was less than the compressive yield stress of cortical bone (200 MPa) and cancellous bone (100 MPa) even as the force was increased to the critical buckling value. This model serves as a first attempt to relate the spatial distribution of stress in the fibula with muscle force, axial load, and compressive stress in light of distal fibular fractures associated with pes planus. Conclusion: The importance of lower extremity mechanical axis deviation is well established in the progression of arthritis in the knee and ankle. The role of the mechanical axis in the predisposition of stress fractures around the ankle has not been evaluated in the literature. This biomechanical study represents the first attempt to understand how deviation of the mechanical axis can result in stress fractures of the lateral malleolus. Future studies including a finite element analysis will provide further information and the results of these studies may alter how clinicians treat patients with stress fractures of the fibula.