Effects of Joint Incongruity on Articular Pressure Distribution and Subchondral Bone Remodeling

The objective of the present work is to review the existing literature on joint incongruity, cellular mechano-transduction, and computer simulations of mechano-adaptive bone remodelling, and to quantitatively assess the effect of incongruity on load transmission and subchondral mineralisation. This book reviews the existing literature on joint incongruity, on cellular mechano-transduction of bone, on computer simulations of biological adaptation processes and on embryonic joint development. It describes finite element models and biomechanical experiments that attempt to quantify the effect of joint incongruity on load transmission and on subchondral mineralisation in human articulations and shows that the natural incongruity has profound effects on biomechanicas and connective tissue adaptation of human joints. The present study addresses investigators from different fields (biology, medicine as well as bio-engineering) who study the development, morphology, biomechanics and function of human joints.