Analysis of the biomechanics of the wrist joint in the context of surgical therapy planning

• Applicants: Privatdozent Dr.-Ing. Jörg Eschweiler; Professor Dr. Björn Rath
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery ; Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 391951537

The fundamental understanding of load transmission and motion behavior of the eight carpal bones, which are connected by a complex soft tissue apparatus, and altogether support the movement for the middle hand against the lower arm, is currently missing. Therefore, surgical therapies of the wrist are based on the individual experience of the surgeon, and the therapeutically results vary strongly. The goal of this project is a valid multi-body-simulation model of the human wrist joint for the solution of the inverse-dynamic and forward-dynamic problem. During developing of the wrist joint model, there will be used different methods for the investigation and modeling of the measured bony motion behavior and the surface models to establish characteristic information of the motion and load transmission between the wrist bones. For the first time the advantages of in vivo and in vitro investigation of the motion behavior of the different wrist bones will be combined. The interdisciplinary approach (medicine, biomechanics) guarantees the validity and medical relevance. With the developed test setup and the developed investigation methods there will be the chance to investigate physiologically and also the pathologically and surgically-modified wrist joints. Thus, for the first time a model-supported comparison of surgical interventions will be possible based on objective criteria.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants