monitoring of bone–implant bond strength by microCT and finite element modelling

Vincent A. Stadelmann, Carl M. Conway and Steven K. Boyd

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2013, vol. 16, issue 9, 993-1001

Abstract: Immediately after implantation, a dynamic process of bone formation and resorption takes place around an orthopaedic implant, influencing its mechanical fixation. The delay until complete fixation depends on local bone architecture and metabolism. Despite its importance, the temporal pattern of implant fixation is still unknown. The optimal duration of post-operative care is therefore difficult to establish for an individual situation, and a method to evaluate non-invasively the evolution of the mechanical stability would be a significant asset in a clinical environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of micro-finite element modelling based on in vivo micro-computed tomography to monitor longitudinally the contact between bone and implant and the implant strength in vivo. The model was first validated for screw pull-out in synthetic bone surrogate. Correlation coefficients of R2 = 0.94 and 0.85 (p < 0.01) were measured between experimental and numerical results for stiffness and failure loads, respectively. Then, the mechanical integration of screws in the proximal tibia of 12 rats was monitored at seven time points over a period of 1 month. We observed significant increases (p < 0.05) of bone–screw contact (+28%), stiffness (+93%) and failure load (+71%) over the course of the experiment, and more than 75% of these changes occurred during the first 2 weeks. Limitations, such as image artefacts and radiation, still compromise the immediate clinical application of this method, but it has a promising potential in preclinical animal studies, as it provides very valuable data about the dynamic aspect of implant integration with considerably reduced animal resources.

Date: 2013
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/10255842.2011.648625 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:gcmbxx:v:16:y:2013:i:9:p:993-1001

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/gcmb20

DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2011.648625

Access Statistics for this article

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering is currently edited by Director of Biomaterials John Middleton

More articles in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().