Irradiating allograft bone may compromise the mechanical stability of the prosthesis-bone construct, potentially having adverse effects on the outcome of femoral impaction grafting at revision hip replacement. This in vitro study aimed to determine the effect of irradiation of allograft bone used in femoral impaction grafting on initial prosthesis stability. Morsellised ovine femoral head bone was irradiated at 0 kGy (control), 15 kGy and 60 kGy. For each group, six ovine femurs were implanted with a cemented polished double taper stem following femoral impaction bone grafting. Dynamic hip joint loading was applied to the femoral head using a servo-hydraulic materials testing machine. The primary outcome was stem micromotion. Tri-axial micromotion of the stem relative to the bone at two sites was measured using linear variable differential transformers and non-contact laser motion transducers. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Compared to the control and 15 kGy groups, specimens in the 60 kGy group demonstrated statistically significant greater micromotion in the axial, antero-posterior and medio-lateral axes. A multi-factorial post-hoc power analysis based on the overall effect of group size indicated a power of 0.7. There was no difference in micromotion between the control and 15 kGy groups. The average micromotion in the axial axes was 63μm in the control and 59μm in the 15 kGy group. The results of this study suggest that a maximum irradiation dose of 15 kGy may not affect initial prosthesis stability following femoral impaction grafting in this model and provide the basis for us to now proceed to in-vivo studies examining the effect of irradiated bone on implant stability over time.
For phase angle (approximate magnitude 5°), no significant overall effects due to degeneration were found across any loading direction (P>
0.2). ANOVA analyses on maximum/minimum principal strains found no significant effect due to disc grade (P>
0.063). However, a small number of significant effects due to disc grade were found at particular strain gauge locations for the isolated disc in flexion, the intact FSU in extension, and the intact FSU/isolated disc in right lateral bending.
The non-significant small phase angles suggest that the disc behaves more like an elastic solid than a poroelastic material, and that dehydration associated with degeneration does not adversely affect damping. Principal strains were not significantly affected by disc degeneration overall, suggesting that the cortical shell adjacent to the disc-endplate boundary maintains a relatively homeostatic condition, with more dramatic architectural changes probably occurring within the trabecular bone. Applications of this research include providing important validation data for analytical/finite element models of the intact FSU and isolated disc segment, and a better understanding of the magnitudes of cortical strains that need to be maintained in order to avoid damaging vertebral bone stress-shielding effects after treatments for disc degeneration.
While maintaining the preload, FSUs were loaded in axial compression at 0.1 Hz through the NAB to 1 MPa in a saline bath for 5 sinusoidal cycles. Once tested, a radial tear was introduced via scalpel injury into the left postero-lateral region of the annulus and tested after one hour of re-equilibration. A final, more severe injury, in the form of removal of a 5 mm x 2 mm window of annulus at the same location was performed and tested after re-equilibration. Outcome measures were FSU stiffness, peak pressure, average pressure, contact area, and centroid of force location. Data was statistically analysed using repeated measures ANOVA or paired t-tests.
The system was used to determine pressure distributions in isolated vertebral bodies inferior to the disc, during axial compression of normal and injured discs of an ovine functional spinal unit.
The Tekscan system will be used to observe the effect of disc injury on the pressure distribution of the adjacent vertebral body. The relationship between the pressure distribution across the vertebral body and bone architecture will also be studied This study illustrated that this system is a valid tool for qualitatively and quantitatively assessing dynamic pressure distributions.
Using the Kyle set-up, the forces required to initiate sliding were found to be lowest with the Synthes DHS (42.33±5.77N), Zimmer CHS (52.67±26.56N), and the IMHS (45.33±10.97N). These were closely followed by the Gamma nail (79.33±8.39N) and the Richards Classic hip screw (82.00±16.37N). The highest forces were for the RTN (98.00±18.52N) and the Austofix hip nail (283.00±70.62N). These results were significantly different. (p<
0.001, ANOVA)
The majority of the scientific literature is based on data obtained from elderly cadaveric material. Little is known about the biomechanical properties of the soft tissue grafts currently used prior to implantation. The correct preconditioning and intraoperative tensioning of the soft tissue grafts has also not been investigated. The initial graft biomechanical properties are important. Inadequate tension will lead to continuing instability whilst excessive tension may cause accelerated joint arthrosis. The tension in the graft may decrease by 30% if it has not been cyclically pretensioned.
This device will also allow the accurate preconditioning of the graft, providing objective data that can then be compared to the subsequent clinical progress of the patient. All testing will be accomplished during the time it takes to prepare the tunnels for insertion of the graft, and as such will not prolong unnecessarily the operative time.
This set-up will be immersed in a saline water bath maintained at body temperature during testing. The load cell will be hermetically sealed, with clamps and water bath being autoclavable. With the facilities for draping, the test area will remain sterile. The auto graft clamps will be designed to allow fixation of various graft materials (eg semitendinosus, gracilis, bone-patella tendon-bone) and adjustable for graft lengths. The water bath will house a thermocouple, heating mat and controller to maintain the saline temperature to within 1°C. The testing system will be mounted on a stainless steel trolley for mobility in the operating room with an underlying shelf to house the associated electronics and a retractable side draw for storage of the laptop computer. The autograft will be preconditioned between two known loads for 20 cycles recording load and displacement simultaneously on a laptop computer. Once preconditioned, the autograft will then be used for the ACL reconstruction in the standard way.
Adult human cadaver pelves were tested to determine micromotion at the prosthesis-bone interface in cementless hemispherical acetabular components during simulated single-limb stance. The micromotion of non-press-fit components with screw fixation in response to cyclic loads to a maximum of 1500N was compressive (interface closing) at the superior iliac rim and distractive (interface opening) at the inferior ischial rim; that of press-fit components was compressive all around the acetabular rim regardless of screw fixation. Adding screws to the component decreased the micromotion at the site of the screw, but sometimes increased it at the opposite side. Two dome screws with the press-fit component decreased the micromotion at the superior iliac rim but at the inferior ischial rim there was either no change or increased movement. A press-fit cup shows less micromotion than a non-press-fit cup with screw fixation. The addition of screws to a press-fit cup does not necessarily increase the initial stability.