Effects of material properties of femoral hip components on bone remodeling

Bone loss around femoral hip stems is one of the problems threatening the long-term fixation of uncemented stems. Many believe that this phenomenon is caused by reduced stresses in the bone (stress shielding). In the present study the mechanical consequences of different femoral stem materials were investigated using adaptive bone remodeling theory in combination with the finite element method. Bone-remodeling in the femur around the implant and interface stresses between bone and implant were investigated for fully bonded femoral stems. Cemented stems (cobalt-chrome or titanium alloy) caused less bone resorption and lower interface stresses than uncemented stems made from the same materials. The range of the bone resorption predicted in the simulation models was from 23% in the proximal medial cortex surrounding the cemented titanium alloy stem to 76% in the proximal medial cortex around the uncemented cobalt-chrome stem. Very little bone resorption was predicted around a flexible, uncemented iso-elastic stem, but the proximal interface stresses increased drastically relative to the stiffer uncemented stems composed of cobalt-chrome or titanium alloy. However, the proximal interface stress peak was reduced and shifted during the adaptive remodeling process. The latter was found particularly in the stiffer uncemented cobalt-chrome-molybdenum implant and less for the flexible isoelastic implant

Adaptive bone-remodeling theory applied to prosthetic-design analysis

The subject of this article is the development and application of computer-simulation methods to predict stress-related adaptive bone remodeling, in accordance with ‘Wolff's Law’. These models are based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) in combination with numerical formulations of adaptive bone-remodeling theories.\ud \ud In the adaptive remodeling models presented, the Strain Energy Density (SED) is used as a feed-back control variable to determine shape or bone density adaptations to alternative functional requirements, whereby homeostatic SED distribution is assumed as the remodeling objective.\ud \ud These models are applied to investigate the relation between ‘stress shielding’ and bone resorption in the femoral cortex around intramedullary prostheses, such as used in Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). It is shown that the amount of bone resorption depends mainly on the rigidity and the bonding characteristics of the implant. Homeostatic SED can be obtained when the resorption process occurs at the periosteal surface, rather than inside the cortex, provided that the stem is adequately flexible

Biomechanical aspects of hydroxylapatite coatings on femoral hip prostheses

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Prospects of computer models for the prediction of osteoporotic bone fracture risk

Bone fractures are major problems for osteoporosis patients. To avoid such fractures, more information is needed about the factors that determine the bone fracture risk. In this chapter, it is discussed how recently developed finite element computer models that can represent the trabecular architecture in full detail can provide such information. It is concluded that a computer modeling approach to this problem is feasible, required and promising. It is expected that, eventually, such models can be used as a basis for an accurate diagnosis of the bone fracture risk