Role of loads and prosthesis material properties on the mechanics of the proximal femur after total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish the role of loads and prosthesis material properties on the mechanics of the proximal femur after total hip arthroplasty. We developed a three-dimensional finite element model of an intact human femur and the same femur with a conventional collared straight-stem femoral component. Using published data, we defined two sets of loading conditions: one that represented three phases of gait, and one that represented four different extreme loads. The four extreme loads were based on the peak joint contact forces that occur during stair ascent and isometric contraction of various muscle groups. The model was analyzed with three different material properties for the prosthesis, including cobalt-chromium alloy, titanium alloy, and a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate. We assumed that the implant was stable, with rigid bonding, collar contact, and no cement. To address femoral component loosening, we examined the shear stresses at the implant-bone interface; to address adaptive bone remodeling, we examined the principal stresses in the supporting cortical bone relative to those in the intact femur. Our analyses of the various loading conditions demonstrated large out-of-plane bending movements and torsional moments, especially for the load representing stair ascent. Based on stepwise multiple regressions, the maximum shear stresses at the implant-bone interface in the distal region were dependent on the total applied axial force and torsion; the maximum shear stresses in the proximal region were dependent on the axial component of the joint contact force alone. Reduction in the prosthesis stiffness, by substitution of the CFRP material properties, resulted in lower interface shear stresses at the distal end of the stem and higher interface shear stresses at the more proximal sections, consistent with the findings of others. We fit equations, based on composite beam theory, to the maximum implant-bone interface shear stresses and the cortical bone principal stresses as a function of the axial modulus of the prosthesis. These equations can be used to estimate the maximum stresses at the interface and in the cortical bone that would be predicted by similar models, for the same prosthesis constructed of alternative materials, relative to the stresses in the intact femur. The nonlinear nature of these relationships was such that the cortical bone stresses changed more rapidly, as a function of the prosthesis modulus, for lower values of elastic modulus, especially in the more proximal sections.

Comparative Study of Ti-<I>x</I>Cr-3Sn Alloys for Biomedical Applications

“…4,5) Pure titanium is not suitable for all purposes due to high melting point, high reactivity with oxygen and absence of shape memory and superelastic properties, many titanium alloys have been developed for biomedical and engineering applications and their properties have been evaluated mainly to improve the biocompatibility and biofunctionality as implant material. [6][7][8][9][10][11] Advantages of titanium alloys over or ( þ ) alloys are their lower modulus and better formability. 7) The relatively low modulus of titanium alloys that can reduce the ''stress-shielding'' effect 8,9) has also drawn much attention to researchers.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11] Advantages of titanium alloys over or ( þ ) alloys are their lower modulus and better formability. 7) The relatively low modulus of titanium alloys that can reduce the ''stress-shielding'' effect 8,9) has also drawn much attention to researchers. For biomedical applications, recently a systematic investigation has been carried out by our group for Ti-Nb and Ti-Mo alloys.…”

Novel Approach of Predicting Fracture Load in the Human Proximal Femur Using Non-Invasive QCT Imaging Technique

“…In order to mimic the varus-valgus stiffness of a cadaver knee, which is approximately 8 Nm, 19 two custom-made momentrelief springs were attached to the bottom of the aluminum chamber. The mechanical simulation of the single-legged stance mode 6 was achieved by attaching a bi-axial wedge (21.6°in the medial-lateral direction and 8.1°in the anterior-posterior direction) below the springs. The torsional moment relief of a typical knee was realized by inserting a stainless steel ball bearing (ABEC-7, McMaster-Carr, New Brunswick, NJ) inside the mechanical jig.…”

“…6,18,27 The increased fragility associated with the presence of lytic defects or osteoporosis suggests that either the strength of the tissue comprising the defect and surrounding bone decreases, or the stress within the bone under applied loads increases as a result of alterations in its geometry. Hence, any method that predicts fracture risk must be able to measure both the changes in bone material behavior (by monitoring apparent bone density or BMD) and its structural geometry (by monitoring cross-sectional area and cross-sectional moment of inertia).…”

Failure analysis of composite femoral components for hip arthroplasty

“…A potential cause of failure of the femoral stems is bone loss in the proximal femoral cortex following hip replacement [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Also, revision arthroplasty can be greatly complicated by an excessive loss of bone stock [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The potential for maintaining better bone stock provides the primary rationale and sparked the initial interest in exploring composite materials for hip prosthesis applications [4][5][6].…”