Finite Element Assessment of a Porous Tibial Implant Design Using Rhombic Dodecahedron Structure

Abstract

The current research presents a novel porous tibia implant design based on porous structure. The implant proximal portion was designed as a porous rhombic dodecahedron structure with 500 μm pore size. Finite element method (FEM) was used to assess the stem behavior under compressive loading compared to a solid stem model. CATIA V5R18 was used for modeling both rhombic dodecahedron and full solid models. Static structural analysis was carried out using ANSYS R18.1 to asses the implant designs. The results indicated enhanced clinical performance of tibial-knee implants compared to the solid titanium implant via increasing the maximum von-Mises stresses by 64% under the tibial tray in porous implant which reduce stress shielding. Also, the maximum shear stress developed in bone/implant interface was reduced by 68% combined with relieving the stress concentration under the stem tip to relieve patients' pain. Finally, porous implants provide cavities for bone ingrowth which improve implant fixation.