Investigation of characteristics at the stem cement interface in total hip replacement

Abstract

Aseptic loosening at the stem cement interface has been noted as a prominent failure mode in cemented total hip replacement. It can be attributed to a tissue reaction to particulate debris generated by wear of the components. Wear can occur not only at the articulating surface but also at other load bearing interfaces due to relative micromotion. The stem cement interface has been consistently cited as a weak link. In the present study, characteristics at this interface were investigated through a series of pull out tests and a fretting wear simulation. The static shear strength was compared across a range of commercially available bone cements, with the result being higher than other studies. Fretting wear was successfully reproduced in vitro, which complied well with retrieval investigations. The research has gained a deep insight into the characteristics at the stem cement interface