Biomechanical finite element simulation of the pelvic organs under dynamic loading and validation against experimental data from magnetic resonance imaging

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition affecting women, particularly those over the age of 50. The etiology and pathophysiology of this condition remain poorly understood within the medical community. In recent years, researchers, particularly medical engineers and biomechanical scientists, have initiated studies on this female pathology. Numerous finite element analyses have been conducted to determine the material properties of tissues involved in POP. Building on the material properties established in prior research, this study presents a patient-specific model derived from patient-specific MRI data. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and boundary conditions were determined from MRI analysis, and the models were validated against MRI simulations encompassing 11 seconds with a 1-second step interval. This study compares the outcomes of our models with MRI results, providing insights into POP biomechanics. A good correlation was observed between MRI data and the finite element method (FEM) models in healthy patients, particularly for the bladder when fluid properties, such as urine, were included. A relative error between 18% and 26% was observed for bladder displacement. Moreover, the models provided acceptable results for the uterus, vagina, and rectum. Visual results supporting these findings are presented in this study.