Anas Bouguecha

Numerical investigations on the strain-adaptive bone remodelling in the periprosthetic femur: Influence of the boundary conditions

BackgroundThere are several numerical investigations on bone remodelling after total hip arthroplasty (THA) on the basis of the finite element analysis (FEA). For such computations certain boundary conditions have to be defined. The authors chose a maximum of three static load situations, usually taken from the gait cycle because this is the most frequent dynamic activity of a patient after THA.Materials and methodsThe numerical study presented here investigates whether it is useful to consider only one static load situation of the gait cycle in the FE calculation of the bone remodelling. For this purpose, 5 different loading cases were examined in order to determine their influence on the change in the physiological load distribution within the femur and on the resulting strain-adaptive bone remodelling. First, four different static loading cases at 25%, 45%, 65% and 85% of the gait cycle, respectively, and then the whole gait cycle in a loading regime were examined in order to regard all the different loadings of the cycle in the simulation.ResultsThe computed evolution of the apparent bone density (ABD) and the calculated mass losses in the periprosthetic femur show that the simulation results are highly dependent on the chosen boundary conditions.ConclusionThese numerical investigations prove that a static load situation is insufficient for representing the whole gait cycle. This causes severe deviations in the FE calculation of the bone remodelling. However, accompanying clinical examinations are necessary to calibrate the bone adaptation law and thus to validate the FE calculations.

Bone remodeling after total hip arthroplasty with a short stemmed metaphyseal loading implant: Finite element analysis validated by a prospective DEXA investigation

In total hip arthroplasty (THA), short stemmed cementless implants are used because they are thought to stimulate physiological bone remodeling and reduce stress shielding. We performed a numerical investigation on bone remodeling after implantation of a specific short stemmed implant using finite element analysis (FEA). Overall bone mass loss was 2.8% in the entire femur. Bone mass decrease was mostly found in the proximal part of the calcar and in the greater trochanter due to the vast cross section of the implant, probably leading to stress shielding. In the diaphysis, no change in the apparent bone density was proven. The assumptions made agreed well with bone remodeling data from THA recipients who underwent dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. However, the clinical investigation revealed a bone mass increase in the minor trochanter region that was less pronounced in the FEA. Further comparisons to other stem designs must be done to verify if the relative advantages of the investigated implant can be accepted.

Numerical investigations of stress shielding in total hip prostheses

Aseptic loosening of the prosthesis is still a problem in artificial joint implants. The loosening can be caused by, among other factors, resorption of the bone surrounding the prosthesis owing to stress shielding. In order to find out the influence of the prosthesis type on post-operative stress shielding, a static finite element analysis of a femur provided with the conventional uncemented stem BICONTACT and of one with the femoral neck prosthesis SPIRON was carried out. Strain energy densities and maximal principal strain distributions were calculated and compared with the physiological situation. Here, stress shielding was demonstrated in both periprosthetic femora. To determine the areas of the stress shielding, the bone in each FE model was subdivided into three regions of interest (ROI): proximal, diaphyseal, and distal. The numerical computations show stress shielding in the proximal ROI of both periprosthetic femora. Diaphyseally, the femoral neck prosthesis SPIRON, in contrast to the conventional uncemented long-stem prosthesis BICONTACT, causes no decrease in the strain distribution and thus no stress shielding. Distally, no change in the load distribution of either periprosthetic femur could be found, compared with the physiological situation.

Mechanical properties of femoral trabecular bone in dogs

BackgroundStudying mechanical properties of canine trabecular bone is important for a better understanding of fracture mechanics or bone disorders and is also needed for numerical simulation of canine femora. No detailed data about elastic moduli and degrees of anisotropy of canine femoral trabecular bone has been published so far, hence the purpose of this study was to measure the elastic modulus of trabecular bone in canine femoral heads by ultrasound testing and to assess whether assuming isotropy of the cancellous bone in femoral heads in dogs is a valid simplification.MethodsFrom 8 euthanized dogs, both femora were obtained and cubic specimens were cut from the centre of the femoral head which were oriented along the main pressure and tension trajectories. The specimens were tested using a 100 MHz ultrasound transducer in all three orthogonal directions. The directional elastic moduli of trabecular bone tissue and degrees of anisotropy were calculated.ResultsThe elastic modulus along principal bone trajectories was found to be 11.2 GPa ± 0.4, 10.5 ± 2.1 GPa and 10.5 ± 1.8 GPa, respectively. The mean density of the specimens was 1.40 ± 0.09 g/cm3. The degrees of anisotropy revealed a significant inverse relationship with specimen densities. No significant differences were found between the elastic moduli in x, y and z directions, suggesting an effective isotropy of trabecular bone tissue in canine femoral heads.DiscussionThis study presents detailed data about elastic moduli of trabecular bone tissue obtained from canine femoral heads. Limitations of the study are the relatively small number of animals investigated and the measurement of whole specimen densities instead of trabecular bone densities which might lead to an underestimation of Youngs moduli. Publications on elastic moduli of trabecular bone tissue present results that are similar to our data.ConclusionThis study provides data about directional elastic moduli and degrees of anisotropy of canine femoral head trabecular bone and might be useful for biomechanical modeling of proximal canine femora.

Advanced friction modeling for bulk metal forming processes

The finite element method is a powerful tool for the design and optimization of hot forming processes. In order to obtain high accuracy in simulation results, exact knowledge of the process conditions is required. Due to the fact that friction in the contact area has a significant impact on the material flow during the forming process, a realistic description of this boundary condition in the FE simulation is important for the usability of the simulation results. The most important influencing factors are the contact pressure, the roughness of the contact surfaces, the sliding velocity and the flow behavior of the material. Currently, only constant friction coefficients are considered in commercial finite element systems for the simulation of bulk metal forming processes. However, this description does not represent the state of the art in tribology. A new friction model is developed, taking into account the sliding velocity between tools and workpiece. This is confirmed by experimental and numerical investigations on model experiments and industrial process.

Numerical simulation of strain-adaptive bone remodelling in the ankle joint

BackgroundThe use of artificial endoprostheses has become a routine procedure for knee and hip joints while ankle arthritis has traditionally been treated by means of arthrodesis. Due to its advantages, the implantation of endoprostheses is constantly increasing. While finite element analyses (FEA) of strain-adaptive bone remodelling have been carried out for the hip joint in previous studies, to our knowledge there are no investigations that have considered remodelling processes of the ankle joint. In order to evaluate and optimise new generation implants of the ankle joint, as well as to gain additional knowledge regarding the biomechanics, strain-adaptive bone remodelling has been calculated separately for the tibia and the talus after providing them with an implant.MethodsFE models of the bone-implant assembly for both the tibia and the talus have been developed. Bone characteristics such as the density distribution have been applied corresponding to CT scans. A force of 5,200 N, which corresponds to the compression force during normal walking of a person with a weight of 100 kg according to Stauffer et al., has been used in the simulation. The bone adaptation law, previously developed by our research team, has been used for the calculation of the remodelling processes.ResultsA total bone mass loss of 2% in the tibia and 13% in the talus was calculated. The greater decline of density in the talus is due to its smaller size compared to the relatively large implant dimensions causing remodelling processes in the whole bone tissue. In the tibia, bone remodelling processes are only calculated in areas adjacent to the implant. Thus, a smaller bone mass loss than in the talus can be expected. There is a high agreement between the simulation results in the distal tibia and the literature regarding.ConclusionsIn this study, strain-adaptive bone remodelling processes are simulated using the FE method. The results contribute to a better understanding of the biomechanical behaviour of the ankle joint and hence are useful for the optimisation of the implant geometry in the future.

Bone remodelling around a cementless straight THA stem: a prospective dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry study

The design of the Bicontact® stem (BBraun, Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) and the implantation technique have undergone no major alterations in the last 20 years leading, and good clinical results have been reported. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the implant encourages beneficial bone remodelling. Twenty-four patients were included in a prospective dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) study of this stem, after appropriate statistical power analysis. Preoperative and postoperative (1 week, 6 months, and 12 months) clinical and DEXA examinations were performed. The Harris Hip Score increased significantly by 39 points. The strongest decreases in BMD were observed in the greater trochanter region (–11%) and the calcar (–12%). In the second half of the study period the bone mineral density recovered slightly and even returned to baseline values in the lesser trochanter region. Therefore, proximal load transfer and physiological bone remodelling around the Bicontact® stem appeared to be achieved.

Numerical Investigations of the Strain-Adaptive Bone Remodeling in the Prosthetic Pelvis

Bone remodeling due to stress shielding is a major cause of hip implants aseptic loosening. Previously, investigations on this phenomenon were based mainly on clinical observations. Currently, the finite element method (FEM) has been established as a reliable and efficient computing method to examine stress shielding after total hip arthroplasty and the related bone remodeling in the prosthetic Femur.

FEA-Based Optimisation of a Clinching Process with a Closed Single-Part Die Aimed at Damage Minimization in CR240BH-AlSi10MnMg Joints

The paper presents results of FEA-based optimisation of the tool design of a clinching process with a closed single-part die. The studied materials are the bake-hardening steel CR240BH, 1.5 mm thick, on the punch side and the die-cast aluminium alloy AlSi10MnMg, 2.95 mm thick, on the die side. The optimisation was aimed at suppression of cracks that appear at the bottom of the clinch joint in AlSi10MnMg in the case of using conventional tool designs. By varying geometry parameters of the tools it was possible to reduce crack probability, though along with slightly worse, but still acceptable geometry parameters of the clinch joint.

Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Multistage Sheet-Bulk Metal Forming Process with Compound Press Tools

Sheet-bulk metal forming is a manufacturing technology, which allows to produce a solid metal component out of a flat sheet. This paper focuses on numerical and experimental investigations of a new multistage forming process with compound press tools. The complete process sequence for the production of this solid metal component consists of three forming stages, which include a total of six production techniques. The first forming stage includes deep drawing, simultaneous cutting and following wall upsetting. In the second forming stage, flange forming combined with cup bottom ironing takes place. In the last stage of the process sequence, the component is sized. To investigate and to improve process parameters such as plastic strain distribution, resulting dimensions and process forces, FEA is performed. Based on these results the developed process is designed.