Medical Use of Finite Element Modeling of the Ankle and Foot

Abstract

Finite element modeling is a field of medicine with great potential future in experimental studies and in daily clinical practice as well. Computational modeling is currently used in several medical applications including orthopedics, cardiovascular surgery, and dentistry. In orthopedics, this method allows a proper understanding of joint behavior, as well as of more complex articular biomechanics that are encountered in several conditions such as ankle fractures or congenital clubfoot. Currently, there is little data on the development of a 3D finite element-defined model for congenital clubfoot. This paper aims to summarize the current status of knowledge and applications of finite element modeling of the foot and ankle.