Effect of the Residual Stresses at the Stem–Cement Interface on the Mechanical Behaviour of Cemented Hip Femoral Prosthesis

Abstract

In orthopaedic surgery and particularly in the total hip arthroplasty, the stem fixation is performed in general using a surgical cement which consists essentially of polymer polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA). During polymerisation of PMMA, residual stresses caused by volumetric and thermal shrinkage (exothermic reaction) are generated in the bulk cement. In this study, the three-dimensional finite element method is used to analyze the distribution stresses in the bone cement. Linear elastic analysis is adapted; von Mises, normal and shear stresses are the criterions that are of concern. The results showed that the inclusion of the residual stresses at the interface stem–cement increase the von Mises and the normal stresses in the different sides of the cement compared to the case without residual stresses.