Wrist joint Finite Element analysis: A review

Hand function is influenced by various diseases and trauma. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a method used to evaluate the impact of these conditions on the joint contact forces of wrist bones. This review aims to assess the feasibility of using FEA to determine the effects of diseases, trauma, and surgical interventions on wrist joint biomechanics.

A search was conducted in several databases, including Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, Ebsco, Scopus, and PubMed. The primary keywords used in this review were ‘finite element analysis’ and ‘finite element model’, combined with ‘wrist joint’.

There were seven studies on using FEA for the wrist joint. Three of these studies evaluated the efficiency of various surgical procedures on wrist joint stress. The remaining four studies determined the joint contact forces in various diseases.

The results of the available studies on using FEA for the wrist joint confirm the high feasibility of this approach in determining the effects of various diseases or surgical interventions on wrist joint contact forces. It appears that various conditions, such as fractures, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis, increase joint contact forces.