Damage of the Bone-Cement Interface in Finite Element Analyses of Cemented Orthopaedic Implants

Abstract

In orthopedic surgery and particularly in total hip arthroplasty, fixation of femoral implant is generally made by the surgical cement. Bone–cement interface has long been implicated in failure of cemented total hip replacement (THA), it is actually a critical site that affect the long-term stability and survival of prosthetic implants after implantation. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of cement penetration into the bone on damage scenario at the interface. Previously most researchers have been performed to study damage accumulation in the cement mantle for different amount of cement penetration. In this work, bone–cement interface integrity has been studied for different mechanical properties. Cohesive traction separation law is used to detect contact damage between cement and bone. Results showed that a larger debonded area was predicted proximally and distally. Adhesion between bone and cement is affected mainly by cement penetration into the bone. Higher cement penetration into the bone leads to a good load transfer. A lower strength of the bone–cement interface due to a lower mechanical property results in faster interface damage. So we advise surgeons to well perpetrate the bone for long-term durability of cemented THA.