Orthopaedic Biomechanics PDF

Preface

Orthopaedic biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of the tissues and integrated musculoskeletal system using mechanical and engineering mechanics methods. Indeed, many textbooks and clinical references already focus on biomechanics, or specific anatomical features or perspectives of the musculoskeletal system, like the spine, hand, or surgical management. However, given the strong current attention of orthopaedic, biomechanical, and biomedical engineering research on translational capabilities for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of clinical disease states, the need for reviews of the state of the art and current needs in orthopaedics is very timely.

It is the goal of this book to present both foundational engineering and mechanical theories about the biomechanics of orthopaedic tissues and anatomical structures, as well as to address how such approaches are confounded by biological issues that influence and modify biomechanics. It is also the goal of this book to provide a unique perspective related to clinically relevant issues in this field, with particular emphasis on diagnostics, injury, and treatment modalities, all with a biomechanical focus. The contributions for each chapter in this book offer quantitative rigor, biologic approaches, and state-of-the-art presentations of current perspectives of relevant considerations and implications in the field of orthopaedic biomechanics today.

Through its 21 chapters, this book provides an in-depth presentation of updated knowledge about orthopaedic biomechanics across all tissues in the musculoskeletal system, at all length scales, and with direct relevance to engineering and clinical applications. It is divided into three main sections to provide appropriate breadth and depth in reviewing the field. The first section presents basic structure-function relationships for the most major orthopaedic tissue types, including the hard and soft tissue elements of the musculoskeletal system-bone, ligament and tendon, disc, and skeletal muscle. The second section specifically reviews the biomechanics of the most relevant structures of the body- from head to toe. Those sections provide an updated presentation of the quantitative relationships between mechanical loading, structural function, and biological performance and also integrate discussions of relevant clinical perspectives for many of those musculoskeletal structures.

In addition to those discussions, the remaining chapters in the last section of this book specifically address current issues and opportunities facing the orthopaedic biomechanics community today. With advances in technology and improved resolution in experimental techniques, substantial progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of cellular regulation and mechanotransduction as it relates to cellular biomechanics, in the modeling of tissues and mechanics, and in understanding and harnessing the biologic factors that influence and are affected by biomechanics. In particular, chapters provide quantitative perspectives on cellular biomechanics, growth and development, the influence of aging and gender, and the computational modeling of these and other factors. Several chapters focus on trauma and injury, as well as diagnostic techniques such as gait analysis and imaging biomarkers. Lastly, many advances have been made in the fields of tissue engineering and biomaterials for this field, and these are reviewed in the context of current technological and engineering techniques. These engineering approaches, along with traditional prosthetics and orthotics practices, are reviewed to stimulate additional progress in the treatment of orthopaedic diseases.

It is my hope that this book will provide extended utility to readers in that it combines both basic biomechanics presentations and quantitative analyses and models with current practice, technologies, and outlook for the future in this field. Accordingly, I believe it will have a broad appeal to novices trying to learn the basics in this field and researchers who have been working in orthopaedic biomechanics for years. Each chapter provides an outlook for the future, addressing the biggest remaining challenges in each topic that I hope will stimulate further advances and progress in this and related areas.

Thanks to all of the contributors of this book, we have assembled a valuable contemporary resource addressing orthopaedic biomechanics while integrating those concepts with engineering and clinical issues. I hope that its readers also find novel perspectives for the interdisciplinary approaches required to translate orthopaedic biomechanics to today's "real world."