Thermographic strain analysis of the proximal canine femur

Thermographic strain analysis (TSA) was used to measure the surface strain distribution of cyclically loaded canine femora. Eleven canine femora were cyclically loaded at 20 Hz in compression at 600 N (+/-200 N). After calibration with measured local strain data, it was possible to quantify the full field patterns measured from the proximal, anterior and medial cortex. The average of each TSA signal normalized by the coincident strain data (0.996) was very near to 1.0 (p = 0.999). The thermographical scans iterate the maximum compressive strains carried by the femur within the region just distal to the femoral neck. Further understanding of the strain distribution in this region is critical in the design of components that attempt to mimic anatomical load transfer after total hip arthroplasty. TSA appears to offer a promising technology as a full field experimental strain analysis method for use with biomechanical issues.