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The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the chemical composition and nanomechanical properties at the bone-cement interface under non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing conditions, in order to understand the effect of weight-bearing on the bone-bonding behavior of strontium-containing hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) cement. In one group, Sr-HA cement was injected into rabbit ilium (under non-weight-bearing conditions). Unilateral hip replacement was performed with Sr-HA cement (under weight-bearing conditions) in the other group. Six months later, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and nanoindentation tests were conducted on the interfaces between cancellous bone and the Sr-HA cement. The nanoindentation results revealed two different transitional behaviors under different conditions. nder weight-bearing conditions, both the Young modulus and hardness at the interface were considerably higher than those at either the Sr-HA cement or cancellous bone. On the contrary, under non-weight-bearing conditions, both the Young modulus and hardness values at the interface were lower than those at the cancellous bone, but were higher than the Sr-HA cement. In addition, EDX results showed that the calcium and phosphorus contents at the interface under weight-bearing conditions were considerably higher than those under non-weight-bearing conditions. The differences in chemical composition and nanomechanical properties at the cement-bone interface under two different conditions indicate that weight-bearing produces significant effects on the bone-bonding behavior of the Sr-HA cement.

Femoral bone remodeling following total hip replacement is a big concern and has never been examined mechanically. In this study, six goats underwent unilateral cemented hip hemiarthroplasty with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement. Nine months later animals were sacrificed, and the femoral cortical bone slices at different levels were analysed using microhardness testing and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanning. Implanted femurs were compared to contralateral nonimplanted femurs. Extensive bone remodeling was demonstrated at both the proximal and middle levels, but not at the distal level. Compared with the nonimplanted side, significant decreases were found in the implanted femur in cortical bone area, bone mineral density, and cortical bone hardness at the proximal level, as well as in bone mineral density and bone hardness at the middle level. However, no significant difference was observed in either variable for the distal level. In addition, similar proximal-to-distal gradient changes were revealed both in cortical bone microhardness and bone mineral density. From the mechanical point of view, the results of the present study suggested that stress shielding is an important mechanical factor associated with bone adaptation following total hip replacement.

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