EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS MENISCAL ATTACHMENTS AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES ON FEMORAL BONE STRESS

In this paper, several finite element models of an equine stifle joint with varying meniscal properties and attachments are compared to understand the effects of meniscal attachment complexity and material property changes on bone stresses. We found that the complexity in the meniscal attachment is critical when evaluating tensile stresses in the bone. We also demonstrate that simplified material properties may be justified when the relationship between each material property and the desired output variables is well understood. The choice of the most efficient, and yet appropriate, meniscal modeling method depends on the goals of the model.