Load-Bearing Mechanisms of Natural and Artificial Joints

Summary

The transmission of forces through the hip joint was analyzed, using a new quasi three-dimensional finite element method program with gap elements, which enabled contact and sliding movements at articular surfaces. In the human hip joint model, stresses were evenly distributed toward the distal femur. In the Charnley total hip replacement model, a stress shielding phenomenon was found in the proximal femur. In a surface hip arthroplasty using a new artificial articular cartilage, it was confirmed that, by changing the design of the prosthesis, the stress pattern could be made to resemble that of the human hip joint.