Identifying a suitable material model to simulate the mechanical load transfer into the humeral bone in stemless shoulder endoprostheses

Abstract

AbstractModern shoulder arthroplasties with stemless implants help to preserve the original bone substance of the proximal humerus and to reduce potential risks of conventional implants. Their shape allows newly formed bone to grow directly through the implant. However, it is not fully explained how an optimal fixation of the implant by formation of new bone can be achieved or stimulated. In this context, we develop a method to simulate the mechanical loading of the proximal humerus during the surgery using the finite element method to investigate whether one or more mechanical stress variables can be correlated with measurement data of cell activity in the bone, which is available in the form of SPECT/CT data. This contribution presents measurements with explanted humeral heads from patients undergoing planned total shoulder arthroplasties in order to parameterize a material model for trabecular bone to be used in the finite element simulation. The raw data of these measurements were published and can be accessed for further investigations.