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University of Denver

Statistical Modeling of Knee Morphology and Material Properties Considering Diverse Populations

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a widely performed surgical procedure aimed at alleviating pain and restoring function in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. Despite its general success, disparities in postoperative outcomes have been observed across different racial and ethnic groups, with minority populations often experiencing less favorable results. One potential avenue for improving the generalizability of orthopaedic implants is using Statistical Shape and Intensity Models (SSIMs), which can be used to incorporate patient variability directly into the orthopaedic medical device development workflow through population-based finite element analysis.</p> <p>This work aimed to construct an SSIM from a diverse subject set, incorporating male and female subjects of various ages from Asian, Hispanic, Black or African American, Native American, and White racial or ethnic groups using a novel registration method. Through t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), significant differences in both shape and material properties across these demographic groups were detected. Notably, the analysis revealed literature-supported differences in bone size between the sexes and changes in bone material quality with age. While significant differences in bone morphology and bone quality among racial and ethnic groups were observed, further validation with a more balanced and robust training set is needed to confirm these findings. Finally, an innovative application to facilitate the utilization of these findings in the development of orthopedic devices was created. This work represents a significant step towards greater inclusivity and personalized care in orthopedic device development.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters Thesis
Year
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Kindy, Gabrielle Jeannine
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Peter J. Laz
  • Chadd W. Clary
  • Charles S. Reichardt

Subjects

dc:subject × 12

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>
Language dc:language
English (eng)

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2437
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-3427

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Denver
Base URL
digitalcommons.du.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Kindy, Gabrielle Jeannine. Statistical Modeling of Knee Morphology and Material Properties Considering Diverse Populations. Masters Thesis thesis, 2024. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2437