Computer system for determination of pressure distribution in the hip joint articular surface: validation and results

Abstract

Background. In this work, we describe the computer systems Viprecox and Active Contours that are used in the process of realistic estimation of some biomechanical parameters of the hip joint, including the maximal value of the stress in the hip joint pmax. The computer system Active Contours uses standard anteroposterior radiographs of the whole pelvis and both hips for its calculations and Viprecox in its kernel uses a relatively simple three-dimensional mathematical model of stress distribution in the hip-joint articular surface which has been extensively described elsewhere (e.g. Iglič 1996).

Material and methods. Both state-of-the-art computer systems were tested by analysing the calculated values of pmax for 81 patients (37 males and 44 females).

Conclusions. In this way we prove that the described computer systems can be used for the determination of the contact stress distribution from standard AP radiographs.