BiomechanicaI mechanism of prominent brain edema around the IateraI ventricIe horns:A finite eIement anaIysis
ZHAI Guo-de
QI Shan-mei
PANG Qi
ZHAI Shen-ye
Abstract：Objective To explore the biomechanical mechanism why brain edema is most prominent around the later-al ventricle horns when hydrocephalus occurs.Methods A two-dimensional finite element model of the lateral ventricle was created based on the CT images of normal cerebra, and brain parenchyma was modeled as a two-phase material com-posed of a porous elastic matrix saturated by interstitial fluid.Setting the biomechanical parameters and boundary condi-tions, a computer simulation of hydrocephalus was used to study the biomechanics responses of periventricular brain tis-sues.Results The results of the finite element simulation intuitively showed the progressive expansion of every part of the ventricle when hydrocephalus occurred.There were heterogeneous biomechanics responses in the periventricular brain tis-sues.Expansive stress concentrations were found in the brain tissues surrounding the anterior and posterior horns.As a re-sult, the ependyma around the ventricular horns was stretched, the void ratio and the pressure of pore fluid were increased. Conclusions The expansive stress concentration and the stretched ependyma and increased void ratio arising from it are the biomechanical mechanisms of prominent brain edema around the lateral ventricle horns.
Keywords：brain edemalateral ventricle hornsbiomechanical mechanismfinite element analysis
Publication Date：2015-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 7-9 )