Background
Intra-articular impacted fragments has influence on the treatment and prognosis of posterior malleolar fracture. IAIFs are more often occurred in the posterolateral area of the distal tibial articular and there has been no study on the stress distribution of IAIF defects at different regions in this area. The objective of this study was to establish IAIF defect finite element models in different regions in posterior malleolar fractures and explore the changes in stress distribution.
Methods
Using the finite element model of intra-articular impacted fragment in posterior malleolar fractures established, establish IAIF defect finite element models in different regions. The stress distribution on the distal tibial articular surface were observed.
Results
When the defect is located at different regions, the influence on the change of the maximum stress of the articular surface is different. When the defect is located at the edge of the articular, the maximum contact stress of the articular changes significantly. When the defect is located at the center of the articular, the maximum contact stress of the articular changes relatively little.
Conclusion
IAIF defect of distal articular surface of tibia will change the maximum contact stress on the joint. The defects in different regions have different effects on the maximum contact stress of the articular surface. The defect at the edge of the articular surface has a great influence on maximum contact stress.