Stress shielding effects of two prosthetic groups after total hip joint simulation replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic biomechanics
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Total hip replacement (THR) is a common procedure.
• Stress shielding, a phenomenon where the prosthesis bears most of the load, can lead to bone resorption and implant loosening.
• Traditional prostheses may exacerbate stress shielding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the stress shielding effects of anatomical prostheses versus traditional prostheses after in vitro THR simulation.
• To provide a biomechanical foundation for novel artificial prostheses and clinical hip joint replacements.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen adult male femoral specimens were divided into two groups (n=8 each): traditional prosthesis and anatomical prosthesis (collum femoris preserving/trabeculae oriented pattern).
• Electric resistance strain gauges measured strain values at various points before and after prosthesis implantation.
• Stress shielding rates were calculated using a standard formula.

Main Results:

• Proximal femoral stress shielding rates were significantly higher in the traditional prosthesis group compared to the anatomical prosthesis group (p < 0.05).
• Significant differences in stress shielding were observed at multiple test points.

Conclusions:

• Anatomical prostheses demonstrate reduced stress shielding compared to traditional designs.
• Preserving femoral anatomy with anatomical implants may enhance implant stability and mitigate bone loss.