Biomimetic composite-metal hip resurfacing implant

Abstract

Hip resurfacing technique is a conservative arthroplasty used in the young patient in which the femoral head is reshaped to accept metal cap with small guide stem. In the present investigation, a hybrid composite-metal resurfacing implant is proposed. The cup is made of carbon fiber/polyamide 12 (CF/PA12) covered with a thin layer of cobalt chrome (Co-Cr). Finite element (FE) method was applied to analyze and compare the biomechanical performances of the hybrid hip resurfacing (HHR) and the conventional Birmingham (BHR). Results of the finite element analysis showed that the composite implant leads to an increase in stresses in the cancellous bone by more than 15% than BHR, indicating a lower potential for stress shielding and bone fracture and higher potential for bone apposition with the HHR. Copyrigth © 2008 H. Bougherara and Martin N. Bureau.