Biomechanics of Joints and Implants

This textbook serves as a comprehensive resource for readers interested in applying the principles of engineering mechanics to analyse the mechanical and structural functions of the musculoskeletal system. Over the past few decades, orthopaedic practice has strongly been influenced by the contributions from mechanical analysis and design. This book sequentially presents basic concepts and applications necessary for understanding a biomechanical system. The book is specially focussed on analysis and design of orthopaedic implants used to treat skeletal diseases and disorders. The book begins with an introduction to the anatomy, physiology, and movements of human body and its mechanical analogy, followed by chapters on basic biomechanics of various joints and spine. It elaborately discusses the gait analysis and measurement techniques and systematically presents the quantitative estimation of musculoskeletal forces (joint forces and moments, muscle forces) using the fundamental concepts of joint dynamics (kinematics and kinetics), with relevant solved examples and exercises to impart basic understanding and knowledge to the students. It also discusses the basic concepts of mechanics of deformable bodies relevant for bone tissue as well as implanted bone structure, common failure mechanisms of implanted bone structure and biomaterials used in orthopaedic implants, and the steps involved in finite element modelling and analysis of implant-bone structures. Other topics covered include various theories, mathematical formulations, the computational framework of bone remodelling and bone ingrowth, mechanobiology based mathematical models of tissue differentiation, and simulations on tissue ingrowth have been presented along with the outcomes of our research activities, which may help and inspire the students to pursue research in this field.