Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (27): 7189-7195.doi: 10.12307/2026.390

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Application of finite element analysis in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis

Ma Changcheng1, Fan Haiyan2, Li Xiang3, Liu Zhichao1, Shao Jie1, Yang Yun3   

  1. 1Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; 2Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China; 3The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2025-08-25 Accepted:2025-10-10 Online:2026-09-28 Published:2026-05-25
  • Contact: Yang Yun, Professor, Master’s supervisor, Chief physician, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Ma Changcheng, Master candidate, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Inner Mongolia Natural Science Foundation, No. 2023LHMS08012 (to YY); Joint Project of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. YKD2021LH025 (to YY)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Single condylar knee arthroplasty is an effective method to treat unilateral compartment knee osteoarthritis. As an advanced biomechanical research tool, finite element analysis provides important support for the prosthesis design and surgical planning of single condylar knee arthroplasty and the biomechanical characteristics of knee joint after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the application progress of finite element analysis in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, including the optimization of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty prosthesis design, surgical planning and biomechanical characteristics of knee joint after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. 
METHODS: The first author used PubMed, CNKI, and WanFang for articles published from database inception to August 2025. English search terms were “FEA, UKA, knee osteoarthritis, knee joint, femoral component, tibia component, biomechanics, ligament of knee joint.” Chinese search terms were “finite element analysis, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, knee osteoarthritis, knee joint, femoral component, tibial component, biomechanics, knee ligament.” Finally, 66 articles were included for review, including 57 in English and 9 in Chinese.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Optimization of prosthesis design: By constructing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty models of different unicondylar prostheses, the stress distribution under different prosthesis structures was analyzed using finite element analysis, which provided accurate data guidance for the optimization of unicondylar prosthesis design. (2) Accurate surgical planning: Finite element analysis can accurately predict the influence of different osteotomy schemes on the biomechanics of knee joint by quantifying mechanical parameters, including tibial kyphosis, joint line position, and lower limb force line, which provides theoretical guidance for surgeons to choose the best surgical scheme, improve surgical accuracy, reduce the risk of complications, and improve the long-term survival rate of prosthesis. (3) Finite element analysis was used to predict the biomechanical characteristics after operation, which can simulate the mechanical behavior of knee joint after operation, including ligament tension, cartilage contact pressure, and bone strain distribution, and solve the mechanical details that two-dimensional images cannot capture.

Key words: finite element analysis, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, knee osteoarthritis, knee joint, femoral prosthesis, tibial prosthesis, biomechanics, knee ligament

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