Development of a hyperelastic material model of subsynovial connective tissue using finite element modeling

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common disorders of the hand. Assessment of carpal tunnel tissue mechanical behavior, especially that of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT), is important to better understand the mechanisms of CTS. The aim of this study was to develop a hyperelastic material model of human SSCT using mechanical test data and finite element modeling (FEM). Experimental shear test data of SSCT from 7 normal subjects and 7 CTS patients collected in a prior study was used to define material response. Hyperelastic coefficients (μ and α) from the first-order Ogden material property definition were iteratively solved using specimen-specific FEM models simulating the mechanical test conditions. A typical Ogden hyperelastic response for the normal and CTS SSCT was characterized by doing the same with data from all samples averaged together. The mean Ogden coefficients (μ/α) for the normal cadaver and CTS patient SSCT were 1.25×10−5 MPa/4.51 and 1.99×10−6 MPa/10.6, respectively when evaluating coefficients for individual specimens. The Ogden coefficients for the typical (averaged data) model for normal cadaver and CTS patient SSCT were 1.63×10−5 MPa/3.93 and 5.00×10−7 MPa/9.55, respectively. Assessment of SSCT mechanical response with a hyperelastic material model demonstrated significant differences between patient and normal cadaver. The refined assessment of these differences with this model may be important for future model development and in understanding clinical presentation of CTS.