Development and validation of a new method for studying three-dimensional knee kinematics using stereophotogrammetry

Details

Supervisors

Cartiaux, Olivier ; Detrembleur, Christine

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [60] en kinésithérapie et réadaptation

Abstract

A good knowledge of the three-dimensional kinematics of the knee joint is an important requirement, particularly in rehabilitation and orthopedic fields. The Neuromusculoskeletal lab is currently designing a new ambulatory device, i.e. a system to mesure the knee six degrees of freedom outside laboratories, in daily life activities. Prior to do validation tests on the device with medical imaging systems, it is interesting to evaluate its performance using the lab stereophotogrammetry system. The method currently used in the lab is based on the anatomical approach and is not accurate enough for such investigation as it is exposed to two sources of errors : (i) anatomical landmarks misplacement and (ii) soft tissue artifact. In this work, new methods have been developed using Matlab®, based on the Joint Coordinate System and the International Society of Biomechanics recommendations. A first method is based on the anatomical approach and its accuracy in predicting different degrees of freedom has been tested. It came out that it can be used for a first validation test of the new device on a knee dummy whose axes of rotation are known. Two others are based on the functional approach. They were shown to be insensitive to landmarks misplacement and to produce accurate results on knee dummy. One of these methods has been generalized to the actual case of human knee. Its performance has not yet been fully assessed due to artifacts associated to the non-optimized fixation systems.