Adaptive bone remodeling around bonded noncemented total hip arthroplasty: a comparison between animal experiments and computer simulation

J Orthop Res. 1993 Jul;11(4):500-13. doi: 10.1002/jor.1100110405.

Abstract

Severe loss of bone related to stress-shielding is one problem threatening the long-term integrity of noncemented total hip arthroplasty. It is widely accepted that this phenomenon is caused by adaptive bone remodeling according to Wolff's law. Recently, quantitative bone-remodeling theories have been proposed, suitable for use in computer-simulation models in combination with finite-element codes, which can be applied to simulate the long-term effect of the remodeling process. In the present paper, the results of such a computer simulation are compared with those in an animal experiment. A three-dimensional finite-element model was constructed from an animal experimental configuration concerning the implantation of a fully coated femoral hip prosthesis in dogs. The simulation results of the adaptive bone-remodeling process (geometric adaptations at the periosteal surface and density adaptations within the cancellous bone) were compared with cross-sectional measurements of the canine femurs after 2 years of follow-up. The detailed comparison showed that long-term changes in the morphology of bone around femoral components of total hip replacements can be fully explained with the present quantitative adaptive bone-remodeling theory.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Animals
  • Bone Remodeling / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Dogs
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur / pathology*
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Radiography