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Numerical simulation of breast reduction with a new knitting condition
Author(s) -
Lopes Diogo,
Clain Stéphane,
Pereira Rui M. S.,
Machado Gaspar J.,
Smirnov Georgi,
Vasilevskiy Igor
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.741
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 2040-7947
pISSN - 2040-7939
DOI - 10.1002/cnm.2796
Subject(s) - breast reduction , reduction (mathematics) , discretization , finite element method , hyperelastic material , point (geometry) , boundary value problem , computer science , breast tissue , boundary (topology) , surface (topology) , calculus (dental) , mathematics , surgery , geometry , mammaplasty , medicine , mathematical analysis , engineering , breast cancer , orthodontics , structural engineering , cancer
Summary Breast reduction is one of the most common procedures in breast surgery. The aim of this work is to develop a computational model allowing one to forecast the final breast geometry according to the incision marking parameters. This model can be used in surgery simulators that provide preoperative planning and training, allowing the study of the origin of the errors in breast reduction. From the mathematical point of view, this is a problem of calculus of variations with unusual boundary conditions, known as knitting conditions. The breast tissue is considered as a hyperelastic material, discretized with three‐dimensional finite elements for the body, whereas the skin is modelled with two‐dimensional finite elements on the curved surface. Although the model is of low precision, we show that it is sufficient for a satisfactory prediction of breast reduction surgery results, allowing an analysis of errors frequently performed during the surgery and giving an understanding of how to avoid or correct them. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.