In vitro measurement of strain in the bone cement surrounding the femoral component of total hip replacements during simulated gait and stair-climbing

The strains in the cement mantle surrounding the cemented femoral component of a total hip replacement were measured in vitro, using strain gauges embedded within the cement mantle adjacent to the femoral component in femurs from cadavers under physiologic loads simulating both single-limb stance and stair-climbing. Cement strains in the most proximal portion of the cement mantle were measured with and without full contact of the collar of the femoral stem on the cortex of the medial portion of the femoral neck during both loading conditions. To our knowledge, these are the first studies to contrast by direct measurement the strain profile in the cement mantle of a cemented femoral component under simulated stair-climbing with that occurring under simulated single-limb stance. They extend the findings from finite element analyses and from clinical specimens retrieved at autopsy in identifying those regions of the cement mantle most likely to fail. At two specific foci, the magnitude of the strain in the cement mantle approaches values that could lead to early fatigue failure of the cement. The two regions in which the strains were highest (greater than 1,000 microstrain) were the most proximal portions of the cement mantle and near the tip of the femoral component. Although these two regions are recognized areas of high strain and also common sites of cement debonding and cement mantle failure, the strain-gauge studies showed that the magnitude of cement strains in the proximal portion of the cement mantle were highest during stair-climbing; in contrast, high strains at the tip region occurred in both gait and stair-climbing. Contact between the collar and the medial portion of the femoral neck reduced the strain in the proximal portion of the cement mantle not only in single-limb stance but in stair-climbing as well. The level of strain recorded in these studies for a simulated person weighing 115 pounds (52 kg) could lead to cement fracture during extended in vivo service life of a cemented femoral component, from either single-limb stance or stair-climbing. This risk would be increased if a void or defect existed in the cement mantle at these sites. Moreover, the increase in strain in the cement mantle was linear with increases in body weight between 100 and 200 pounds (45 and 91 kg) of spinal load, indicating that strains in a heavy patient could readily exceed the fatigue limit of the cement, particularly if a stress riser such as a pore in the cement or a sharp corner of the prosthesis were present. These data reemphasize the need to continue efforts to develop methods to strengthen bone cement and to reduce those factors that increase the strain in the cement mantle of cemented femoral components of total hip arthroplasty, particularly proximally and near the tip.