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Investigation of interaction phenomena between crural fascia and muscles by using a three-dimensional numerical model

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Abstract

The focus of this work is the numerical modeling of the anterior compartment of the human leg with particular attention to crural fascia. Interaction phenomena between fascia and muscles are of clinical interest to explain some pathologies, as the compartment syndrome. A first step to enhance knowledge on this topic consists in the investigation of fascia biomechanical role and its interaction with muscles in physiological conditions. A three-dimensional finite element model of the anterior compartment is developed based on anatomical data, detailing the structural conformation of crural fascia, composed of three layers, and modeling the muscles as a unique structure. Different constitutive models are implemented to describe the mechanical response of tissues. Crural fascia is modeled as a hyperelastic fiber-reinforced material, while muscle tissue via a three-element Hill’s model. The numerical analysis of isotonic contraction of muscles is performed, allowing the evaluation of pressure induced within muscles and consequent stress and strain fields arising on the crural fascia. Numerical results are compared with experimental measurements of the compartment radial deformation and intracompartmental pressure during concentric contraction, to validate the model. The numerical model provides a suitable description of muscles contraction of the anterior compartment and the consequent mechanical interaction with the crural fascia.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the staff of the Laboratory of Design Tools and Methods in Industrial Engineering of the University of Padova for their technical support. The support of Carla Stecco (Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova) in obtaining muscle echography and images of crural fascia under polarized light is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, I-35131, Padova, Italy

    Piero G. Pavan, Paola Pachera, Antonella Forestiero & Arturo N. Natali

  2. Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Via G. Marzolo 9, I-35131, Padova, Italy

    Piero G. Pavan, Paola Pachera, Antonella Forestiero & Arturo N. Natali

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  1. Piero G. Pavan
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  2. Paola Pachera
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  3. Antonella Forestiero
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  4. Arturo N. Natali
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Correspondence to Piero G. Pavan.

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The authors disclose to have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

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Pavan, P.G., Pachera, P., Forestiero, A. et al. Investigation of interaction phenomena between crural fascia and muscles by using a three-dimensional numerical model. Med Biol Eng Comput 55, 1683–1691 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1615-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1615-0

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