Design and Analysis of Lattice Structures for Hip Implants: A Comprehensive Review

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a highly successful procedure, but about 10% of implants require revision within 10–15 years, with stress shielding and aseptic loosening among the leading contributing factors. The mechanical mismatch between stiff metallic implants and bone tissue causes periprosthetic bone resorption, compromising long-term stability. Lattice structures present a promising solution for reducing effective stiffness while maintaining structural integrity and promoting osseointegration. This comprehensive review evaluates lattice-based hip implants by analyzing studies that used finite element analysis or experimental testing. Three major design approaches were identified: strut-based configurations (body-centered cubic [BCC], diamond, octet-truss), triply periodic minimal surface topologies (Gyroid, Schwarz Diamond, Neovius), and topology-optimized structures. BCC lattices are the most extensively validated configuration, with proven fatigue resistance under ISO 7206–4 standards. TPMS structures have superior permeability and surface properties, whereas topology-optimized approaches achieve the greatest stress shielding reduction (>50%) via patient-specific density distributions, though experimental validation is limited. Important design parameters include porosity, pore size, and strut geometry. Lattice implants reduce stress shielding significantly, while maintaining mechanical stability. However, most studies lack experimental fatigue validation, interface modeling ignores micromotion effects, and single-patient geometries restrict robustness assessment. Future research should prioritize standardized comparative studies, comprehensive experimental validation including multi-million cycle fatigue testing and in vivo studies, and patient-specific optimization methodologies to advance clinical translation.