Principles of Biomechanics

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Forces, Stress & Strain - Biomechanics Basics Blitz

  • Force (F): Push/pull causing acceleration/deformation. Types: Compressive, Tensile, Shear, Torsional, Bending.
  • Stress ($\sigma$): Force per unit area. $\sigma = F/A$. Unit: Pascals (Pa).
  • Strain ($\epsilon$): Relative deformation due to stress. $\epsilon = \Delta L/L_0$. Dimensionless.
  • Stress-Strain Relationship:
    • Elastic Modulus (Young's Modulus, E): Material stiffness. $E = \sigma / \epsilon$ in elastic region.
    • Yield Strength: Stress at elastic limit, onset of plastic deformation.
    • Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS): Max stress material withstands before necking/failure.
    • Fracture Point: Point where material breaks.
  • Material Behaviour:
    • Ductile: Undergoes significant plastic deformation before fracture.
    • Brittle: Fractures with little or no plastic deformation. ![Stress Strain Curve](stress strain curve)

⭐ Cortical bone is anisotropic. Compressive strength \approx 170-200 MPa; tensile strength \approx 100-130 MPa. Strongest under compression.

Bone & Soft Tissue Properties - Tissue Toughness Trials

  • Toughness: Material's ability to absorb energy and plastically deform before fracturing.
    • Calculated as the total area under the stress-strain curve.
    • Units: Energy per unit volume, e.g., $J/m^3$.
  • Factors Influencing Toughness:
    • Loading Rate: Viscoelastic tissues show rate-dependent toughness.
    • Temperature: Lower temperatures can induce brittleness.
    • Microstructure: Collagen quality/orientation, mineral density (bone), porosity.
    • Notches/Defects: Act as stress concentrators, reducing toughness.
  • Common Toughness Tests:
    • Impact Tests (e.g., Charpy, Izod): Measure energy absorbed during sudden impact leading to fracture.
    • Fracture Toughness ($K_{IC}$): Quantifies resistance to propagation of a pre-existing crack.
  • Clinical Significance:
    • Bone: Decreases with age, osteoporosis. Cortical bone generally tougher.
    • Soft Tissues (tendons, ligaments): Dependent on collagen network integrity. Stress-Strain Curve with Elastic and Plastic Zones

⭐ Bone's remarkable toughness arises from its hierarchical composite structure, involving mechanisms like crack deflection and microcracking at different length scales, which dissipate energy.

Joint Kinematics & Kinetics - Motion Mechanics Medley

  • Kinematics: Motion description.
    • Osteokinematics: Bone movement (flexion, abduction) in planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse).
    • Arthrokinematics: Joint surface motion: roll, slide, spin.
      • 📌 Convex-Concave Rule: Convex on concave: roll opposite slide. Concave on convex: roll same as slide.
    • Degrees of Freedom (DOF): Independent rotations.
  • Kinetics: Forces causing motion.
    • Forces: Internal (muscle), External (gravity).
    • Levers:
      • Class 1: Fulcrum central (triceps).
      • Class 2: Load central (calf raise).
      • Class 3: Effort central (biceps) - most common.
    • Torque: $T = F \times d$. Rotational force.
    • Joint Reaction Force (JRF): Inter-articular force.
    • Pressure: $P = F/A$. Convex-Concave Rule in Joint Movement

⭐ Most body levers are Class 3: ↑speed/ROM, ↓force.

Implant Biomechanics & Fixation - Fixation & Fusion Facts

  • Implant Stiffness & Load:
    • Stress Shielding: ↑ Implant stiffness (e.g., Co-Cr > SS > Ti) → ↓ bone load → bone resorption.
    • Load Sharing: Desirable; implant & bone share stress, promotes healing. Titanium alloys (lower Young's Modulus) better.
  • Fixation Stability Types:
    • Absolute Stability: No motion (e.g., compression plating). Primary bone healing (no callus).
    • Relative Stability: Micromotion (e.g., IM nails, ex-fix, bridge plates). Secondary bone healing (callus).
  • Screws & Plates:
    • Screws: Cortical (dense bone, smaller pitch), Cancellous (spongy bone, larger pitch).
    • Locking Plates (LCP): Angular stability.

      ⭐ LCPs act as "internal-external fixators," crucial for osteoporotic or comminuted fractures due to angular stability.

  • Arthrodesis (Fusion):
    • Goal: Bony union across a joint.
    • Requires: Decortication, bone graft (autograft = gold standard), stable fixation, compression.

Working length and stress distribution in orthopedic platesoka

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Stress (Force/Area) causes Strain (deformation); Young's Modulus measures material stiffness.
  • Bone is anisotropic (properties vary with load direction) and viscoelastic (stress-strain behavior is time-dependent).
  • Wolff's Law: Bone remodels in response to mechanical stresses; disuse leads to atrophy.
  • The load-deformation curve illustrates elastic limit, yield point, plastic deformation, and ultimate failure point.
  • Key forces on bone: Tension, compression, shear, torsion, and bending.
  • Stress shielding occurs when an implant bears most of the load, leading to bone resorption around it.

Practice Questions: Principles of Biomechanics

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When occlusal forces are increased, the cancellous bony trabeculae adapt by?

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Flashcards: Principles of Biomechanics

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Cloverleaf shape of K-nail on the cross-section which provides good _____ stability.

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Cloverleaf shape of K-nail on the cross-section which provides good _____ stability.

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