BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF FLEXOR TENDON FORCES IN HUMAN HAND FINGERS

Introduction. Numerous anatomical structures of the hand are often prone to injury, as they are among the most functionally loaded components of the human musculoskeletal system. Injuries to the finger joints account for up to 60% of all injuries to the distal upper limb. One of the modern and promising treatment methods used in traumatology and orthopedics is joint endoprosthesis. However, even when using such an effective treatment method, there are certain challenges, such as prosthesis wear or the reaction of surrounding tissues to the material chosen for the implant. Modern computer technology and specialized software enable preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of a new endoprosthesis design. The implementation of numerical research, among other things, requires an understanding of the interaction conditions between model components and their load schemes. Aim. To study the forces in the flexor tendons of the fingers at different angles of flexion in the metacarpophalangeal, proximal, and distal interphalangeal joints. Materials and methods. The research was conducted analytically, taking into account the principles of classical mechanics. To simplify calculations, a schematic model of the finger was created, including only skeletal elements and flexor tendons. The effect of tendons on the phalanges and joints was replaced by the forces that arise in the flexors. Results. As a result of the research, analytical dependencies were obtained for calculating the forces in the flexor tendons of the index finger at different angles of flexion. Conclusions. Analytical dependencies were obtained for determining the internal forces that may arise in the flexor tendons of the human fingers at different orientations of the phalanges. It was found that the magnitudes of the studied forces depend on the position of the finger being considered. Additionally, the magnitude of these forces is determined by the applied load and the size of the phalanges.