Femoral strain changes after total hip arthroplasty--patient-specific finite element analyses 12 years after operation.

Periprosthetic stress-shielding after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a well-known phenomenon. Many authors have used the finite element (FE) method to show the effects of THA on animal or human femora. In most cases they have performed cadaver experiments. The current project is a FE analysis based on a retrospective computerized tomography (CT) in vivo data set of 11 patients 12 years after THA. In order to control the analysis, a computationally created stem was implanted at the femur model of the not operated contralateral side. In comparison to the not operated side, there was a significant reduction of the strain energy density (SED) values in all regions of interest (ROI) with the greatest effect near the distal tip of the stem. Only zone 1 showed no clear trend which may be due to load application at the greater trochanter causing local strain peaks. The median SED values changed by -31.65% (ROI 1), -25.64% (ROI 2), -30.82% (ROI 3), -12.35% (ROI 4), -40.10% (ROI 5), -30.37% (ROI 6) and -43.38% (ROI 7). As far as we are aware, the current combination of in vivo CT density data with FE strain analyses after THA is based on the largest number of patients and the longest follow-up period. This combination enables analysis and prediction of the influence of implantation upon bone and can be compared with of remodelling theories. The assessment of mechanical strain data during a follow-up trial could be a new approach for analyzing different hip stems in clinical biomechanics.

Volumetric measurement of periprosthetic bone remodeling: prospective 5 years follow-up after cemented total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic bone remodeling after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a well recognized phenomenon. Many authors have published osteodensitometric data with DEXA analysis. This study based on computerized tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of the current project is to collect prospective volumetric bone density data with a clinical CT study in six patients after cemented THA (titanium alloy stem). The follow-up time is 5 years. A data set of about 100,000 bone voxels for each femur was collected. Bone density was observed by dint of an osteodensitometric computer program. The median results were shown in seven regions of interest (ROI) around the prosthesis stem, according to Gruen. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the six cases after 60 months with respect to the postoperative control demonstrated a significantly lower density in ROI 2 (-125.5HU, P = 0.014), ROI 3 (-116.7HU, P = 0.023), ROI 4 (-54.5HU, P = 0.023), ROI 5 (-90.9HU, P = 0.014) and ROI 6 (-104.9HU, P = 0.014). Maximum density decrease was observed in ROI 2 and 3. The statistical analysis of the six cases after 60 months with respect to the 24 months control demonstrated a significantly lower density in ROI 2 (-62.6HU, P = 0.014), ROI 5 (-62.9HU, P = 0.023). There was a density decrease in ROI 3, 4, 6, 7 which was not significant and a slight increase in ROI 1. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first collection of fully prospective 5 years 3D periprosthetic density data. The CT method used in the study presented here measures three-dimensionally, while the frequently used DEXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry) method measures two-dimensionally. The data are also unique as they are suitable for direct patient-specific 3D finite element meshing and biomechanical calculation. They can be graphically post-processed in order to obtain cross-sectional or 3D displays of density patterns.