Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Clinical significance of musculoskeletal finite element model of the second and the fifth foot ray with metatarsal cavities and calcaneal sinus

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to establish musculoskeletal finite element (FE) model of the second and the fifth foot ray accounting for metatarsal cavities and calcaneal sinus. The model was then used to predict the effects of metatarsal cavities and calcaneal sinus on internal stresses/strains of plantar longitudinal arches.

Materials and methods

The geometry of foot bones and soft tissues were constructed by CT and MRI images of Virtual Chinese Human “female No. 1”. Two types of nonlinear FE models of sagittal foot rays were developed with or without metatarsal cavities and calcaneal sinus using ANSYS © software package. The sagittal trabecular architecture of metatarsals and calcaneus were obtained by cutting, defatting and bleaching fresh foot specimen of a cadaver.

Results

The model proposed was able to describe the isostatic stress flows in sagittal planes of plantar longitudinal arches. The size of metatarsal cavity or calcaneal sinus could affect stress/strain distributions on metatarsals and calcaneus, but had almost no effects on stress/strain of other foot bones and plantar soft tissues. During balance standing, the maximum von Mises stresses were predicted at the shaft and the basis of metatarsals, while the maximum strains of bony regions were found around metatarsal cavities. Among plantar soft tissues, relative high tensions were burdened by plantar fascia, followed by long plantar ligament. The minimum tensions occurred in plantar intrinsic muscles.

Conclusions

The study shows that the tension/compression stress flows are geometrically similar with the tension/compression trabecular architectures in sagittal sections of metatarsal and calcaneus. The FE predictions of stress/strain concentration on metatarsals and fascia are useful in enhancing biomechanical knowledge on metatarsal stress fractures and plantar fasciitis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Buchbinder R (2004) Plantar fasciitis. N Engl J Med 350:2159–2166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Buchler P, Ramaniraka NA, Rakotomanana LR et al (2002) A finite element model of the shoulder: application to the comparison of normal and osteoarthritic joints. Clin Biomech 17:630–639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cheung JT, Zhang M, An KN (2004) Effects of plantar fascia stiffness on the biomechanical responses of the ankle-foot complex. Clin Biomech 19:839–846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cheung JT, Zhang M, Leung AK, Fan YB (2005) Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the foot during standing: a material sensitivity study. J Biomech 38:1045–1054

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Donahue SW, Sharkey NA (1999) Strains in the metatarsals during the stance phase of gait: Implications for stress fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am 81:1236–1244

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gefen A (2002) Stress analysis of the standing foot following surgical plantar fascia release. J Biomech 35:629–637

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gefen A, Megido-Ravid M, Itzchak Y, Arcan M (2000) Biomechanical analysis of the three-dimensional foot structure during gait: a basic tool for clinical applications. J Biomech Eng 122:630–639

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gefen A, Seliktar R (2004) Comparison of the trabecular architecture and the isostatic stress flow in the human calcaneus. Med Eng Phys 26:119–129

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gill LH (1997) Plantar fasciitis: diagnosis and conservative management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 5:109–117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gao S (2004) Atlas of practical anatomy of lower limb, 2nd edn. Shanghai Science & Technique Publishing, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jacob S, Patil MK (1999) Three-dimensional foot modeling and analysis of stress of normal and early stage Hansen’s disease with muscle paralysis. J Rehab Res Dev 36:252–263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kirby KA (2001) What future direction should podiatric biomechanics take? Clin Podiatr Med Surg 18:719–723

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lemmon D, Cavanagh P (1997) Finite element modelling of plantar pressure beneath the second ray with flexor muscle loading. Clin Biomech 12:S13–S14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mow VC, Flatow EL, Ateshian GA (2000) Biomechanics. In: Buckwalter JA, Einhorn TA, Simon SR (eds) Orthopaedic basic science: biology and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, 2nd edn. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nakamura S, Crowninshield RD, Cooper RR (1981) An analysis of soft tissues loading in the foot-a preliminary report. Bull Prosth Res 18:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  16. Prior TD, Tollafield DR (1997) Sports injuries. In: Tollafield DR, Merriman LM (eds) Clinical skills in treating the foot. Churchill Livingstone, New York

    Google Scholar 

  17. Simkin A (1982). Structural analysis of the human foot in standing posture. Ph.D. Thesis. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv

  18. Simon SR, Alaranta H, An KN (2000) Kinesiology. In: Buckwalter JA, Einhorn, TA, Simon SR (eds) Orthopaedic basic science: biology and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, 2nd edn. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sabry FF, Ebraheim NA, Mehalik JN, Rezcallah AT (2000) Internal architecture of the calcaneus: implications for calcaneus fractures. Foot Ankle Int 21:114–118

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sharkey NA, Ferris L, Smith TS et al (1995) Strain and loading of the second metatarsal during heel-lift. J Bone Joint Surg Am 77:1050–1057

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wu L, Zhong S, Li Y, Zhao W (2004) Biomechanical mechanisms of overuse injuries of second plantar longitudinal arch in flat foot. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 84:1000–1004

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Wu L (2007) Nonlinear finite element analysis for musculoskeletal biomechanics of medial and lateral plantar longitudinal arch of Virtual Chinese Human after plantar ligamentous structure failures. Clin Biomech 22:221–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhang M, Mak AF (1999) In vivo friction properties of human skin. Prosthet Orthot Int 23:135–141

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhong S, Yuan L, Tang L et al (2003) Research report of experimental database establishment of digitized virtual Chinese No.1 female. J First Mil Med Univ 23:196–200

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by China Wenzhou Medical College Science Development Foundation Project (QTJ06012), China Guangdong Province Natural Science Foundation Project (No 5300714) and China Guangdong Province Medical Scientific Research Foundation Project (B2005096). The author would like to thank the institute of Clinical Anatomy, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, China for sharing experimental dataset of Virtual Chinese Human “female No 1”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Dongxia Road N, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China

    Lijun Wu & Xiaoping Wang

  2. Institute of Digitized Medicine, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, 325035, China

    Lijun Wu, Rongmei Zheng, Jia Qu, Maolin Tang & Xiangwu Zheng

  3. Institute of Clinical Anatomy, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    Shizhen Zhong & Zihai Ding

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, 325027, China

    Xiangyang Wang & Jianjun Hong

Authors
  1. Lijun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shizhen Zhong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rongmei Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jia Qu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zihai Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Maolin Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiangyang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jianjun Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Xiangwu Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Xiaoping Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lijun Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wu, L., Zhong, S., Zheng, R. et al. Clinical significance of musculoskeletal finite element model of the second and the fifth foot ray with metatarsal cavities and calcaneal sinus. Surg Radiol Anat 29, 561–567 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0231-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0231-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation