Some fundamental aspects of human joint replacement. Analyses of stresses and heat conduction in bone-prosthesis structures

Abstract

It was the object of the studies described in this work to provide general, fundamental concepts on some aspects of human joint replacement and the performance of artificial joints in the body. The work is divided into four sections of which the first discusses joint replacement and bone-prosthesis structures in general. In section II analyses of the process of heat generation and conduction in self-curing acrylic cement, as used for implant fixation, are presented with the object of establishing the chances of thermal bone-tissue necrosis and evaluating precautions that can be taken to prevent it. Section III is devoted to stress analyses of intra-medullary fixation structures under loading, with the object of determining the characteristic mechanical parameters of such structures, evaluating their influences on the mechanical performance and providing guidelines for prosthesis designs and implantation procedures. In section IV some conclusions and recommendations, as reached on the basis of the analyses, are once more briefly discussed in general terms.