How Bone Tissue and Cells Experience Elevated Temperatures During Orthopaedic Cutting: An Experimental and Computational Investigation

Abstract

During orthopaedic surgery elevated temperatures due to cutting can result in bone injury, contributing to implant failure or delayed healing. However, how resulting temperatures are experienced throughout bone tissue and cells is unknown. This study uses a combination of experiments (forward-looking infrared (FLIR)) and multiscale computational models to predict thermal elevations in bone tissue and cells. Using multiple regression analysis, analytical expressions are derived allowing a priori prediction of temperature distribution throughout bone with respect to blade geometry, feed-rate, distance from surface, and cooling time. This study offers an insight into bone thermal behavior, informing innovative cutting techniques that reduce cellular thermal damage.