The effect of interfacial parameters on cup-bone relative micromotions. A finite element investigation

Achieving stability is a prerequisite for allowing bone to grow into the porous surface of non-cemented acetabular cups. The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of interfacial characteristics on relative cyclical micromotion between cup and bone during gait in the immediate postoperative phase. The technique used is finite element analysis. Six models with different interfacial characteristics are created in order to study the effects of fixation technique. These include representation of a 1 mm press-fit, 2 mm press-fits (with and without an initial polar gap) and exact-fit conditions (with and without additional screw fixation). Although direct validation of the model has not been performed, the calculated micromotions under a static load of 1112 N are compared with appropriate experimental data. Generally, the model tends to underestimate micromotion and this underestimate is significant in the case of relative surface-normal micromotion in polar regions for models with low- and no-interference. The most likely cause of this significant underestimate is a failure of the model to accurately represent penetration of rough contacting surfaces under compression. Other types of micromotion, although low, are within standard deviations reported by Kwong et al. (1994 Journal of Arthroplasty 9, 163-170). Quasi-static joint contact and muscle forces, representative of the stance phase of gait are then applied and maximum micromotions are found to occur consistently prior to toe off: this being the point of maximum force. With regard to the press-fit simulations, good cup-bone contact in the superior region of the interface is required for stability and the greatest micromotions occur in the models with the larger interference and larger polar gaps. In contrast to the press-fit models, muscle activity in exact-fit models influences the calculations. Specifically, the early activity of m.semimembranosus modelled causes opening of the peripheral seal. Taken together it is found that polar gaps reduce the stability of the model and lack of pre-compresssion in the periphery allows this region of the interface to be opened up.