Browsing by Author "Geldenhuys, Cheri"
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- ItemDirect measurement of patellofemoral contact force(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University., 2020-03) Geldenhuys, Cheri; Muller, Jacobus Hendrik; Van den Heever, David Jacobus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease that affects millions of people around the world. The most effective treatment is a total knee arthroplasty. However, post-operative patellofemoral problems do arise, such as anterior knee pain, which affects up to 23% of patients. The cause of post-operative anterior knee pain remains unknown. It has been noted that patients with patellar buttons that were overstuffed during surgery are more likely to suffer anterior knee pain. This has led to the theory that overstuffing might be a cause of post-operative patellofemoral pain. It is believed that the thickness of the patellar implant may have an effect on the contact force experienced by the patellofemoral joint. The present study aimed to directly measure the contact force experienced by the patellar button prosthesis used in total knee arthroplasty, in a simulated environment, using a force sensor. The results of the contact force experienced by patellar buttons of different thicknesses used in total knee arthroplasty were then compared. The difference in the thickness of the patellar buttons proved to have a significant effect on the simulated patellofemoral contact force. This may be proof that overstuffing the patellofemoral joint could significantly increase the patellofemoral contact force, leading to further problems.