The Differentiation of Loose and Secure Femoral Implants in Total Hip Replacement Using a Vibrational Technique: An Anatomical and Pilot Clinical Study

Anatomical study: The common pathway to failure in total hip replacements is loosening of the acetabular and femoral components. The reliable diagnosis of this loosening is difficult. A non-invasive technique has been developed which analyses a vibration signal transmitted through the femur. This ca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 1989-06, Vol.203 (2), p.77-81
Main Authors: Rosenstein, A D, McCoy, G F, Bulstrode, C J, McLardy-Smith, P D, Cunningham, J L, Turner-Smith, A R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetabulum
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anatomy
Biomedical materials
Bone implants
Cement
Cementing
Cements
Femoral components
Femur
Femur - surgery
Hip
Hip joint
Hip Prosthesis
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Loosening
Middle Aged
Patients
Pilot Projects
Prostheses
Prosthesis Failure
Prosthetics
Reoperation
Surgery
Surgical implants
Total hip arthroplasty
Transplants & implants
Vibration
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Anatomical study: The common pathway to failure in total hip replacements is loosening of the acetabular and femoral components. The reliable diagnosis of this loosening is difficult. A non-invasive technique has been developed which analyses a vibration signal transmitted through the femur. This can distinguish between a femoral component which is loose and one which is firmly fixed. Charnley femoral components were cemented securely into ten cadaver femurs and the transmitted vibration signal recorded. The prostheses were then loosened first at the cement-prosthesis and then at the cement-bone interface. The tests were then repeated. Consistent and distinct differences between output vibration signals were observed between the firmly implanted and the loose prostheses. Pilot clinical study: Seven patients admitted for recision surgery because of clinical and radiological evidence of femoral implant loosening were tested using this technique. A further four patients with secure femoral components were tested approximately two weeks after total hip replacement. The differences in output signal, which had been observed between firmly implanted and loose prostheses during the anatomical study, were again demonstrated.
ISSN:0954-4119
2041-3033
DOI:10.1243/PIME_PROC_1989_203_014_01