Inverse remodelling algorithm identifies habitual manual activities of primates based on metacarpal bone architecture

• Published in: Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 399 - 410
• Main Authors: Synek, Alexander, Dunmore, Christopher J., Kivell, Tracy L., Skinner, Matthew M., Pahr, Dieter H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Architecture; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Biophysics; Bones; Computed tomography; Engineering; Extinct species; Female; Finite element method; Hand; Hand (anatomy); Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Joints - physiology; Knee; Locomotion; Male; Mathematical models; Mechanical loading; Metacarpal; Metacarpal Bones - anatomy & histology; Metacarpal Bones - diagnostic imaging; Metacarpal Bones - physiology; Original Paper; Primates; Primates - physiology; Scaling; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Walking; Weight-Bearing; X-Ray Microtomography; Micro-finite element; Inverse remodelling; Metacarpal; Load estimation; Hand
• ISSN: 1617-7959; 1617-7940; 1617-7940
• DOI: 10.1007/s10237-018-1091-y

Previously, a micro-finite element (micro-FE)-based inverse remodelling method was presented in the literature that reconstructs the loading history of a bone based on its architecture alone. Despite promising preliminary results, it remains unclear whether this method is sensitive enough to detect differences of bone loading related to pathologies or habitual activities. The goal of this study was to test the sensitivity of the inverse remodelling method by predicting joint loading histories of metacarpal bones of species with similar anatomy but clearly distinct habitual hand use. Three groups of habitual hand use were defined using the most representative primate species: manipulation (human), suspensory locomotion (orangutan), and knuckle-walking locomotion (bonobo, chimpanzee, gorilla). Nine to ten micro-computed tomography scans of each species ( n = 48 in total) were used to create micro-FE models of the metacarpal head region. The most probable joint loading history was predicted by optimally scaling six load cases representing joint postures ranging from - 75 ∘ (extension) to + 75 ∘ (flexion). Predicted mean joint load directions were significantly different between knuckle-walking and non-knuckle-walking groups ( p < 0.05 ) and in line with expected primary hand postures. Mean joint load magnitudes tended to be larger in species using their hands for locomotion compared to species using them for manipulation. In conclusion, this study shows that the micro-FE-based inverse remodelling method is sensitive enough to detect differences of joint loading related to habitual manual activities of primates and might, therefore, be useful for palaeoanthropologists to reconstruct the behaviour of extinct species and for biomedical applications such as detecting pathological joint loading.