Stress concentrations in bone cement : a critical distance approach

Abstract

Bone cement is a biomaterial which is used in the fixation of orthopaedic implants. Despite its extensive use it is regarded as the 'weak link' in cemented arthroplasties, fatigue failure of the cement mantle being a major cause of aseptic loosening, leading to revision. The cement mantle contains stress concentrations in the form of the metallic stem, protruding bone and from defects, including porosity (trapped air/monomer) and casting defects (incomplete filling, laminations), all of which have been shown to initiate fatigue failure in vivo. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of these stress concentrations in the fatigue strength of bone cement.