1.Femoral Bowing Increases Early Postoperative Stress around the Femoral Stem in Humans:A Finite Element Analysis
Nobuhiro KAKU ; Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA ; Yutaro SHIBUTA ; Hiroshi TSUMURA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2023;15(5):725-733
Background:
This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of stress distribution caused by the placement of tapered wedge stems in bowed femurs compared with that in normal femurs and the effect of varus stem placement.
Methods:
Models with normal and enhanced bowing were created from the right-side computed tomography data of a 17-yearold woman with the least bowing among 40 participants who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or operative treatment for trauma in our hospital between January 2017 and May 2018. Finite element analysis was performed, assuming the tapered wedge stem was placed in the neutral and varus positions.
Results:
Varus stem placement on a femur with normal bowing showed a deviation and increase of von Mises stresses in the medial femur. Stem placement on a bowed femur, even when placed in the neutral position, increased stress across the periprosthetic bone. When the stem was placed in the varus position, von Mises stress across the periprosthetic bone increased. Zone 7, with strong bowing, demonstrated 3.6-fold increased stress compared with normal femurs. The maximum tensile principal stress was greatest in zone 6 and increased in zones 3 and 4.
Conclusions
Surgeons should assess femoral bowing preoperatively and pay particular attention to intraoperative stem alignment for femurs with high bowing.
2.Mechanical Effects of Offset and Length of the Cementless Stem for Initial Fixation to the Femur
Yutaro SHIBUTA ; Nobuhiro KAKU ; Kensei TANAKA ; Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(1):46-52
Background:
Implants with different neck offsets for hip replacement surgery are now available from various implant manufacturers and have become a widely used option for achieving postoperative hip stability. This study aimed to compare the impact of neck offset on initial stem fixation and the mechanical effects of different stem lengths when using cementless stems.
Methods:
We performed a finite element analysis using Mechanical Finder ver. 12.0. CAD models of the Profemur Preserve and Profemur TL cementless stems. Each stem was appropriately sized, and the von Mises stress was calculated. We defined micromotion as the relative displacement between the stem node and the surface of bone contact. The maximum micromotion values of these finite element models were compared under standing conditions.
Results:
The stress per zone for both stems (Preserve and TL) was the highest in zone 5, followed by zones 3 and 4, which were almost in line with each other. The high offset (HIGH) stress was higher than the standard offset (STD) stress in each stem and zone.The micromotion of each stem was higher at each load in the following order: Preserve HIGH, Preserve STD, TL HIGH, and TL STD, with HIGH being higher than STD at each stem.
Conclusions
The choice of higher offset or shorter length stems induced higher micromotion at the interface to the bone in the early postoperative period. Therefore, surgeons should be more careful to get appropriate initial fixation using shorter stems with higher offset necks due to the relatively high incidence of loosening or fractures.
3.Mechanical Effects of Offset and Length of the Cementless Stem for Initial Fixation to the Femur
Yutaro SHIBUTA ; Nobuhiro KAKU ; Kensei TANAKA ; Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(1):46-52
Background:
Implants with different neck offsets for hip replacement surgery are now available from various implant manufacturers and have become a widely used option for achieving postoperative hip stability. This study aimed to compare the impact of neck offset on initial stem fixation and the mechanical effects of different stem lengths when using cementless stems.
Methods:
We performed a finite element analysis using Mechanical Finder ver. 12.0. CAD models of the Profemur Preserve and Profemur TL cementless stems. Each stem was appropriately sized, and the von Mises stress was calculated. We defined micromotion as the relative displacement between the stem node and the surface of bone contact. The maximum micromotion values of these finite element models were compared under standing conditions.
Results:
The stress per zone for both stems (Preserve and TL) was the highest in zone 5, followed by zones 3 and 4, which were almost in line with each other. The high offset (HIGH) stress was higher than the standard offset (STD) stress in each stem and zone.The micromotion of each stem was higher at each load in the following order: Preserve HIGH, Preserve STD, TL HIGH, and TL STD, with HIGH being higher than STD at each stem.
Conclusions
The choice of higher offset or shorter length stems induced higher micromotion at the interface to the bone in the early postoperative period. Therefore, surgeons should be more careful to get appropriate initial fixation using shorter stems with higher offset necks due to the relatively high incidence of loosening or fractures.
4.Mechanical Effects of Offset and Length of the Cementless Stem for Initial Fixation to the Femur
Yutaro SHIBUTA ; Nobuhiro KAKU ; Kensei TANAKA ; Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(1):46-52
Background:
Implants with different neck offsets for hip replacement surgery are now available from various implant manufacturers and have become a widely used option for achieving postoperative hip stability. This study aimed to compare the impact of neck offset on initial stem fixation and the mechanical effects of different stem lengths when using cementless stems.
Methods:
We performed a finite element analysis using Mechanical Finder ver. 12.0. CAD models of the Profemur Preserve and Profemur TL cementless stems. Each stem was appropriately sized, and the von Mises stress was calculated. We defined micromotion as the relative displacement between the stem node and the surface of bone contact. The maximum micromotion values of these finite element models were compared under standing conditions.
Results:
The stress per zone for both stems (Preserve and TL) was the highest in zone 5, followed by zones 3 and 4, which were almost in line with each other. The high offset (HIGH) stress was higher than the standard offset (STD) stress in each stem and zone.The micromotion of each stem was higher at each load in the following order: Preserve HIGH, Preserve STD, TL HIGH, and TL STD, with HIGH being higher than STD at each stem.
Conclusions
The choice of higher offset or shorter length stems induced higher micromotion at the interface to the bone in the early postoperative period. Therefore, surgeons should be more careful to get appropriate initial fixation using shorter stems with higher offset necks due to the relatively high incidence of loosening or fractures.
5.Mechanical Effects of Offset and Length of the Cementless Stem for Initial Fixation to the Femur
Yutaro SHIBUTA ; Nobuhiro KAKU ; Kensei TANAKA ; Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(1):46-52
Background:
Implants with different neck offsets for hip replacement surgery are now available from various implant manufacturers and have become a widely used option for achieving postoperative hip stability. This study aimed to compare the impact of neck offset on initial stem fixation and the mechanical effects of different stem lengths when using cementless stems.
Methods:
We performed a finite element analysis using Mechanical Finder ver. 12.0. CAD models of the Profemur Preserve and Profemur TL cementless stems. Each stem was appropriately sized, and the von Mises stress was calculated. We defined micromotion as the relative displacement between the stem node and the surface of bone contact. The maximum micromotion values of these finite element models were compared under standing conditions.
Results:
The stress per zone for both stems (Preserve and TL) was the highest in zone 5, followed by zones 3 and 4, which were almost in line with each other. The high offset (HIGH) stress was higher than the standard offset (STD) stress in each stem and zone.The micromotion of each stem was higher at each load in the following order: Preserve HIGH, Preserve STD, TL HIGH, and TL STD, with HIGH being higher than STD at each stem.
Conclusions
The choice of higher offset or shorter length stems induced higher micromotion at the interface to the bone in the early postoperative period. Therefore, surgeons should be more careful to get appropriate initial fixation using shorter stems with higher offset necks due to the relatively high incidence of loosening or fractures.
6.Comparison of Early Postoperative Stress Distribution around Short and Tapered Wedge Stems in Femurs with Different Femoral Marrow Cavity Geometries Using Finite Element Analysis
Tsuguaki HOSOYAMA ; Nobuhiro KAKU ; Jonas A. PRAMUDITA ; Yutaro SHIBUTA
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2024;16(5):724-732
Background:
In total hip arthroplasty (THA), the ideal stem length remains uncertain; different stem lengths are used in different cases or institutions. We aimed to compare the stress distributions of cementless tapered wedges and short stems in femurs with different femoral marrow geometries and determine the appropriate fit.
Methods:
Finite element models were created and analyzed using HyperMesh and LS-DYNA R11.1, respectively. The 3-dimensional shape data of the femurs were extracted from computed tomography images using the RETOMO software. Femurs were divided into 3 groups based on the Dorr classification. The computer-aided design data of cementless tapered wedge-type and short stems were used to select the appropriate size. In the finite element analysis, the loading condition of the femur was assumed to be walking. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were placed within the femur model at the internal and external contact points of the stem based on Gruen zones. The average stresses and strain energy density (SED) of the elements included in each VOI were obtained from the preoperative and postoperative models.
Results:
The von Mises stress and SED distributions of the cementless tapered wedge and short stems were similar in their respective Dorr classifications. In both stems, the von Mises stress and SED after THA were lower than before THA. The von Mises stress and SED of the cementless tapered wedge stem were higher than those of short stems. Cementless tapered wedge-type stems tended to have lower rates of change than short stems; however, Dorr C exhibited the opposite trend. In the Dorr classification comparison, the von Mises stress and SED were greater for both stems in the order of Dorr C > Dorr B > Dorr A, from Zone 2 to Zone 6.
Conclusions
In Dorr A and B, the short stem exhibited a natural stress distribution closer to the preoperative femur than the tapered wedge stem; however, in Dorr C, the short stem may have a greater effect on stress distribution, suggesting that it may cause greater effects, such as fracture in the early postoperative period, than other Dorr types.