• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.245-248
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• 1997

Excessive stress on the bone-stem interface may cause local micromotion that could produce midthigh pain, interface bone resorption and prevent bony ingrowth. It is important for clinician and prosthetic designer to develop an understanding of the load transfer mechanism, its associated stress pattern and its relationships with the particular mechanical characteristics of the femoral stem designs. Finite element method (FEM) is preeminently suited to provide information in this respect. The authors developed 3-dimensional numerical finite element models implanted with the straight stem which is composed of total 1170 elements of 8 nodes and with the curved stem which is composed of total 885 elements of 8 node, and analysed the relative micromotions between the straight stem and the curved stem in immediate postoperative stage of an uncemented total hip replacement in load simulating the single leg stance. The results showed that the rotational displacement was occupied over 90% of total micromotion in both types of stem and was peak at the proximal medial portion of the stem, but markedly less distally. The curved stem was more stable especially in terms of rotational stability. It is recommended that surgeons do not allow the patient weight bearing until bony ingrowth was achieved. In the future more attention should be drawn to increase initial rotational stability of the two types of femoral stem to prevent loosening from excessive micromotion.