Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of change in tibial posterior slope on contact force and ligament stress using finite element analysis.
Materials and methods: A 3-dimensional finite element model for total knee arthroplasty was developed by using a computed tomography scan. For validation, the tibial translations were compared with previous studies. The finite element analysis was conducted under the standard gait cycle, and contact force on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and stresses on lateral and medial collateral ligaments were evaluated.
Results: The tibial translations showed similarity with previous studies. As the tibial posterior slope angle increases, the contact stress area increased and was well distributed, and the contact force on UHMWPE decreased overall. However, the maximum contact force in the case for 10° case was greater than those for others. The stresses on ligaments were the greatest and smallest in 0° and 10° cases, respectively.
Conclusions: The higher tibial posterior slope angle leads to the lower contact stress and more extensive stress distribution overall in posterior-stabilized total knee arthroscopy. However, it does not absolutely mean the smallest contact force. The stresses on ligaments increased with respect to the smaller tibial posterior slope angle.
Keywords: Contact force; Finite element method; Tibial posterior slope; Total knee arthroplasty.