Vol.21, No.2, 2021, pp. 179–184
UDC:

Some daily movements of patients with hip prostheses generate stress concentration in polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) cement, especially in the stem/cement/bone interfaces. High stress values can damage the cement and lead to loosening of the prosthesis. This work is devoted to the development of a redesigned prosthesis type in order to minimize stress concentration in the cement leading to a proposed prosthesis with an integrated elastomer between the stem and the femoral head to relieve this problem. 3D-finite element model is carried out to investigate the effect of the incorporated elastomer which permits to partially absorb load transfer in the cement. The results of the proposed model compared to those of a conventional prosthesis provide an acceptable solution for reducing stress level in the cement and consequently increasing the lifetime of the total hip replacement avoiding thus loosening.

Keywords: hip prosthesis, cement, stress concentration, stress absorber, finite element method