Friction-induced whirl vibration: root cause of squeaking in total hip arthroplasty

Squeaking is reported for ceramic-on-ceramic hip arthroplasty, and risk factors leading to this phenomenon have been investigated empirically in the past, this way giving hints to when this phenomenon occurs. The aim of this study is to present an experimentally validated explanation for the dynamical mechanism underlying the squeak, i.e. a description of what happens when noise is generated. First the kinematics of the ceramic bearing couple in relative motion are reconsidered. The relative motion at the contact zone can be understood as superposition of relative rotation and translation. The relative weight of both components depends substantially on the instantaneous load vector, which primarily determines the position of the contact area, and the instantaneous relative rotation vector. For the investigated gait scenarios, both load vector and rotation axis vary strongly during the gait cycle. Second, experimental vibration analysis during squeak is performed. A pronounced micrometer scale elliptical motion of the ball inside the liner is found. It is shown that the rotational component of the relative kinematics during gait indeed leads to friction induced vibrations. We show that a generic whirl type friction induced flutter instability, also known from similar (non bio-) mechanical systems, is the root cause of the emitted squeaking noise. Based on the identified mechanism, the role of THA system parameters (materials, design), patient risk factors, as well as the role of the gait cycle, will have to be reconsidered and linked in the future to develop effective measures against squeaking.