Biomechanical Evaluation of Load Transfer and Stability in a Corrugated Hip Stem: A Comparative Analysis

Total hip replacements (THR) frequently encounter significant rates of disaster and a limited functioning lifespan of around 6–10 years. These failures are often attributed to improper implant positioning, postsurgical instability, and suboptimal loading during various phases of gait. Revision surgeries, necessitating a number of femoral drilling surgeries to remove and replace the currently installed implant, are commonly recommended within a couple of years post-hip replacement. The associated pain and trauma pose considerable challenges with current hip implants. In this study, we developed an innovative corrugated hip implant with optimized dimensions according to ASTM standards, incorporating grooves for guided insertion and removal, requiring a single femoral drilling and positioning procedure. Biocompatible titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) was chosen as the implant material, and the innovative implant was virtually put into a femur model. to evaluate its stability and loading characteristics. Post-surgery stability and load transfer are critical factors determining the success of a hip stem. A three-dimensional model of the hip stem was constructed to analyze load transfer and micro-motion. Various materials with different mechanical properties were utilized to simulate the bone–implant structure. Micro-motion at the bone–stem interface was evaluated through finite element analysis (FEA) employing a frictional contact condition. Simultaneously, the load transfer mechanism of the implanted construct was assessed and compared to the intact condition. Also, a comparative analysis was conducted between bonded and contact models to investigate load transfer and stability. The results indicated minimal micro-motion between the femur and implant, low stresses within the elastic limits of both the implant and bone, and homogeneous stress distribution. Unlike conventional hip implants, these findings are crucial for promoting bone growth, enhancing implant stability, and reducing implant wear.