Daniel O. O'Connor

The initiation of failure in cemented femoral components of hip arthroplasties

We studied 16 femora retrieved at post-mortem from symptomless patients who had a satisfactory cemented total hip arthroplasty from two weeks to 17 years earlier, with the aim of delineating the initial mechanisms involved in loosening. Only one specimen showed radiographic evidence of loosening; the other 15 were stable to mechanical testing at 17.0 Nm of torque. In all 16 specimens, the cement-bone interface was intact with little fibrous tissue formation. By contrast, separation at the cement-prosthesis interface and fractures in the cement mantle were frequent. The most common early feature was debonding of the cement from the metal, seen at the proximal and distal ends of the prosthesis. Specimens which had been in place for longer also showed circumferential fractures in the cement, near the cement-metal interface, and radial fractures extending from this interface into the cement and sometimes to the bony interface. The most extensive cement fractures appeared to have started at or near sharp corners in the metal, or where the cement mantle was thin or incomplete. Fractures were also related to voids in the cement. The time relationship in this series suggested that long-term failure of the fixation of cemented femoral components was primarily mechanical, starting with debonding at the interface between the cement and the prosthesis, and continuing as slowly developing fractures in the cement mantle.

IN VIVO SKELETAL RESPONSES TO POROUS SURFACED IMPLANTS SUBJECTED TO SMALL INDUCED MOTIONS

Cylindrical porous-coated implants were placed in the distal femoral metaphyses of twenty dogs and were subjected to zero, twenty, forty, or 150 micrometers of oscillatory motion for eight hours each day for six weeks with use of a specially designed loading apparatus. The in vivo skeletal responses to the different magnitudes of relative motion were evaluated. Histological analysis demonstrated growth of bone into the porous coatings of all of the implants, including those that had been subjected to 150 micrometers of motion. However, the ingrown bone was in continuity with the surrounding bone only in the groups of implants that had not been subjected to motion or that had been subjected to twenty micrometers of motion; in contrast, the implants that had been subjected to forty micrometers of motion were surrounded in part by trabecular bone but also in part by fibrocartilage and fibrous tissue, and those that had been subjected to 150 micrometers of motion were surrounded by dense fibrous tissue. Trabecular microfractures were identified around three of the five implants that had been subjected to forty micrometers of motion and around four of the five that had been subjected to 150 micrometers of motion, suggesting that the ingrown bone had failed at the interface because of the large movements. The architecture of the surrounding trabecular bone also was altered by the micromotion of the implant. The implants that had stable ingrowth of bone were surrounded by a zone of trabecular atrophy, whereas those that had unstable ingrowth of bone were surrounded by a zone of trabecular hypertrophy. The trabeculae surrounding the fibrocartilage or fibrous tissue that had formed around the implants that had been subjected to forty or 150 micrometers of motion had been organized into a shell of dense bone tangential to the implant (that is, a neocortex outside the non-osseous tissue). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings of the present study quantitate the in vivo patterns of bone ingrowth and remodeling that occur in association with different magnitudes of micromovement of porous-coated implants. Small movements (zero and twenty micrometers) are compatible with stable ingrowth of bone and atrophy of the surrounding trabecular bone, whereas larger movements (forty and 150 micrometers) result in less stable or unstable ingrowth of bone, the formation of fibrocartilage or fibrous tissue around the implant, and hypertrophy of the surrounding trabecular bone. This study not only quantified the magnitudes of relative micromotion that cause these different skeletal responses but also may help in the interpretation of radiographs of patients who have a porous-coated prosthesis.

The mechanism of loosening of cemented acetabular components in total hip arthroplasty. Analysis of specimens retrieved at autopsy.

Late aseptic loosening of cemented acetabular components is governed by the progressive, three-dimensional resorption of the bone immediately adjacent to the cement mantle. This process begins circumferentially at the intraarticular margin and progresses toward the dome of the implant. Evidence of bone resorption at the cement-bone interface was present even in the most well-fixed implants before the appearance of lucent lines on standard roentgenographic views. The mechanical stability of the implant was determined by the three-dimensional extent of bone resorption and membrane formation at the cement-bone interface. The leading edge of the membrane is a transition zone from regions of membrane interposition between the cement and the bone to regions of intimate cement-bone contact. Histologic analysis revealed that progressive bone resorption is fueled by small particles of high density polyethylene (HDP) migrating along the cement-bone interface and bone resorption occurs as a result of the macrophage inflammatory response to the particulate HDP. Evidence in support of a mechanical basis for failure of fixation was lacking. The mechanism of late aseptic loosening of a cemented acetabular component is therefore biologic in nature, not mechanical. This is exactly opposite to the mechanism of loosening on the femoral side of a cemented total hip replacement, which is mechanical in nature.

The Importance of Multidirectional Motion on the Wear of Polyethylene

The development of a new hip simulator for the study of bearing materials used in total hip replacements has led to several findings which add important new information to the understanding of wear process of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the most commonly used bearing material today for total joint replacements. Using this hip simulator which is capable of applying the physiological motion pathways occurring during gait to total hip components which are held in the correct anatomical position under the complex loading conditions of the hip in gait, the authors have shown that physiological motion pathways produce very different wear rates and morphology of the wear surface than unidirectional reciprocating pathways. Scanning electron microscopy studies show striking differences in the morphology of the wear surfaces of the polyethylene depending upon the relative motions of the components. Wear rates, surface morphology and particle debris generation consistent with clinical and retrieved studies are achieved when physiological conditions are simulated.

Micromotion of cemented and uncemented femoral components

We evaluated the initial stability of cemented and uncemented femoral components within the femoral canals of cadaver femurs during simulated single limb stance and stair climbing. Both types were very stable in simulated single limb stance (maximum micromotion of 42 microns for cemented and 30 microns for uncemented components). However, in simulated stair climbing, the cemented components were much more stable than the uncemented components (76 microns as against 280 microns). There was also greater variation in the stability of uncemented components in simulated stair climbing, with two of the seven components moving 200 microns or more. Future implant designs should aim to improve the initial stability of cementless femoral components under torsional loads; this should improve the chances of bony ingrowth.

Biomechanical and histologic investigation of cemented total hip arthroplasties. A study of autopsy-retrieved femurs after in vivo cycling.

Eleven whole anatomic specimens of the femur were retrieved at autopsy from patients who previously had cemented total hip arthroplasty. Implant duration ranged from 0.5 to 210 months. Clinically and roentgenographically the implants were stable. A detailed biomechanical analysis evaluated bone strains and implant stability in both the single-limb stance and stair-climbing positions using a 100-pound spinal load. The stability offered by cement in these well-fixed prostheses was remarkable, with the maximum axial micromotion being 40 mu. This is a reflection of intimate osseointegration at the bone-cement interface with only rare intervening fibrous tissue. The strain gauge and photoelastic strain-coating studies revealed that marked stress shielding in the proximal medial femoral cortex persists long after a cemented femoral component is inserted. Even 17 years after surgery, the strain in the calcar region did not normalize.

A quantitative in vitro assessment of fit and screw fixation on the stability of a cementless hemispherical acetabular component

This investigation quantifies in vitro the effect of component fit, as well as the effect of adjuvant screw fixation, on the initial stability of cementless hemispherical titanium acetabular total hip arthroplasty components and assesses apposition of the acetabular components to bone. Six, fresh human hemipelvi (3 matched pairs) were harvested at autopsy. Titanium alloy acetabular components with a porous surface of commercially pure titanium fiber mesh (Harris Galante Porous acetabular components, Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) were used for implantation. Initially, each acetabulum was underreamed to achieve a 2 mm press-fit with the acetabular component. Pressure-sensitive film had been placed along the dome and medial wall at the bone-implant interface to assess the completeness of seating. After the implant was impacted into the acetabular cavity, relative motion between the implant and bone was measured during simulated single leg stance. Adjuvant fixation of the implant was then obtained with the insertion of four 6.5 mm cancellous screws. High-contrast roentgenograms of the specimens in multiple views were obtained after initial cup insertion and again after screw insertion. The stability of each implant under load was measured with four, three, two, one, and no screws in place. Further reaming of the bone was done to create a 1 mm press-fit. The sequence was then repeated. Further reaming was done to create an exact-fit and the sequence was repeated again. Under these conditions, 1 mm press-fit with or without screws provided the optimum combination of fit stability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Femoral Component Offset Its Effect on Strain in Bone-Cement

The magnitude of the offset of the femoral prosthesis strongly influences the mechanics of the hip following a total hip arthroplasty. An increased offset increases the moment arm of the abductor muscles. This reduces the abductor force required for normal gait and, consequently, reduces the resultant force across the hip joint. These factors are advantageous. However, increased offset also increases the bending moment on the implant, which could adversely increase the strain in the medial cement mantle. To evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of these conflicting results of increasing the offset of the femoral component the authors measured in vitro in cadaver femora the effect of differing offsets of the femoral component on strain in the cement mantle. After testing the intact femora, the authors cemented femoral prostheses in place and quantified the abductor force, resultant force, and strain in the cement mantle under loading conditions simulating single limb stance at different femoral offset levels. The reduction in both abductor and resultant force was substantial with increased femoral component offset, but the strain in the cement of the proximal medial portion of the cement mantle was not significantly increased.

Differences in Stiffness of the Interface Between a Cementless Porous Implant and Cancellous Bone in vivo in Dogs Due to Varying Amounts of Implant Motion

To determine the mechanical properties of the interface between the tissue ingrowth into porous coatings and the implant, porous-coated cylindrical implants were inserted into the distal femur in 20 mature dogs and oscillated in vivo 8 hours per day for 6 weeks at fixed amounts of micromotion (0, 20, 40 and 150 microns). Applied torques and resulting displacements were recorded. The torsional resistance per unit angular displacement (TR/AD), reflecting the stiffness of the bone-porous coating interface, was 0.88 +/- 0.25 N-M/deg immediately after implantation in the 20-micron displacement group. It increased with time after surgery, reaching a maximum of 1.25 +/- 0.60 N-M/deg at 6 weeks. The TR/AD was lower initially (0.77 +/- 0.43 N-M/deg) in the 40-micron group and gradually decreased with time after surgery, reaching a maximum of 0.54 +/- 0.13 N-M/deg at 6 weeks. The TR/AD was even lower (0.24 +/- 0.10 N-M/deg) in the 150-micron group initially and remained the same (0.16 +/- 0.09 N-M/deg) with time after surgery. Histologic evaluation showed bone ingrowth in continuity with the surrounding bone in the 20-micron group consistent with the high stiffness values at sacrifice. In contrast, a mixture of fibrocallus and bone were found at the bone-porous coating interface in the 40-micron group, consistent with the intermediate stiffness values. In contrast, despite the fact that bone was found in the depth of the porous coating in the dogs in the 150-micron group, the low stiffness values were a reflection of fibrous tissue formation at the interface in that group, because of the large motion disrupting bony ingrowth at the bone-porous coating interface. By monitoring the torsional resistance per unit of angular displacement dynamically in vivo, it was possible to evaluate the mechanical properties of the bone-porous coating interface as tissue ingrowth proceeded. Twenty microns of oscillating displacement was compatible with stable bone ingrowth with high interface stiffness, whereas 40 and 150 microns of motion was not.

Aggressive wear testing of a cross-linked polyethylene in total knee arthroplasty

Recently, highly cross-linked polyethylenes with high wear and oxidation resistance have been developed. These materials may improve the in vivo performance of polyethylene components used in total knee arthroplasty. To date, the in vitro knee wear testing of these new polyethylenes has been done under conditions of normal gait. However, their critical assessment also must include aggressive in vitro fatigue and wear testing. In the current study, an aggressive in vitro knee wear and device fatigue model simulating a tight posterior cruciate ligament balance during stair climbing was developed and used to assess the performance of one type of highly cross-linked polyethylene tibial knee insert in comparison with conventional polyethylene. The highly cross-linked inserts and one group of conventional inserts were tested after sterilization. One additional group of conventional inserts was subjected to accelerated aging before testing. The articular surfaces of the inserts were inspected visually for surface delamination, cracking, and pitting at regular intervals during the test. The aged conventional polyethylene inserts showed extensive delamination and cracking as early as 50,000 cycles. In contrast, the unaged conventional and highly cross-linked polyethylene inserts did not show any subsurface cracking or delamination at 0.5 million cycles. The appearance and location of delamination that occurred in the aged conventional inserts tested with the current model previously have been observed in vivo with posterior cruciate-sparing design knee arthroplasties with a tight posterior cruciate ligament.