A general adhesive wear simulation for total joint replacements - application to the patellofemoral joint

摘要

Advances in design, materials, and fixation have increased the longevity of total joint replacements and significantly reduced the incidence of mechanical failure or loosening of implant components. Wear of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearing material used in most implants is now among the most important problems in total joint replacement. Wear tests in joint simulators are the gold standard for evaluation of wear resistance and are performed on a routine basis in many research laboratories. Physical wear testing, however, is labor intensive and time consuming. Numerical wear simulations have been developed and applied to the hip joint to evaluate adhesive wear of polyethylene liners. The purpose of this project was to develop a general adhesive wear simulation applicable to any articulating joint with arbitrary geometry and subject to arbitrary relative motion. Validation of the model was established through application to the patello-femoral joint of a total knee replacement.