Failure of cemented hip implants under complex loading : experimental and numerical analysis

Abstract

A new generation of experimental pre-clinical testing methods for cemented hip replacement femoral components have been proposed, and preliminarily validated by comparing a 'good' prosthesis design with a 'bad' prosthesis design. The basis for these new tests is the measurement of relative motion between im plant and bone over time while loading is applied. However, it is yet to be proven whether these next generation tests can satisfactorily distinguish between the performance of several prosthesis designs. Additionally, opinions vary widely as to the necessary loading conditions required, particularly over whether or not muscle loading should be simulated.