title: An experimental technique for the investigation of three-dimensional stress in bone cement underlying a tibial plateau.
abstract: The technique of experimental model testing was applied to the analysis of stress at selected sites in bone cement underlying a tibial plateau. The investigation utilized a large model knee fabricated from materials which had mechanical properties similar to the actual tibial plateau and acrylic cement but which did not duplicate adequately the complexity of bone. A porous interface was created in the model between the materials representing the bone and cement. Three-dimensional strain rosettes were embedded into the cement and the model was loaded in a varus or valgus mode. Overloading resulted in breakdown of the modelled anterior and part of the posterior cement-bone interfaces, producing non-linear and in some cases erratic strains in the anterior section but repeatable linear results in the posterior section. The investigation highlighted the necessity for three-dimensional strain gauge investigations as opposed to two-dimensional studies. It is suggested that the approach could provide comparative information about different products and form the basis for a valuable design tool.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013977:Tibia
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements