title: Study of the polycarbonate-urethane/metal contact in different positions during gait cycle.
abstract: Nowadays, a growing number of young and more active patients receive hip replacement. More strenuous activities in such patients involve higher friction and wear rates, with friction on the bearing surface being crucial to ensure arthroplasty survival in the long term. Over the last years, the polycarbonate-urethane has offered a feasible alternative to conventional bearings. A finite element model of a healthy hip joint was developed and adjusted to three gait phases (heel strike, mid-stance, and toe-off), serving as a benchmark for the assessment of the results of joint replacement model. Three equivalent models were made with the polycarbonate-urethane Tribofit system implanted, one for each of the three gait phases, after reproducing a virtual surgery over the respective healthy models. Standard body-weight loads were considered: 230% body-weight toe-off, 275% body-weight mid-stance, and 350% body-weight heel strike. Contact pressures were obtained for the different models. When comparing the results corresponding to the healthy model to polycarbonate-urethane joint, contact areas are similar and so contact pressures are within a narrower value range. In conclusion, polycarbonate-urethane characteristics are similar to those of the joint cartilage. So, it is a favorable alternative to traditional bearing surfaces in total hip arthroplasty, especially in young patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2934-1525
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabarre
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine School, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain ; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Avenida San Juan Bosco 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine School, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain ; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Avenida San Juan Bosco 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain ; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Avenida Isabel la Católica 3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0785-4132
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ibarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine School, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain ; Aragón Health Sciences Institute, Avenida San Juan Bosco 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain ; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Avenida Isabel la Católica 3, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo-Escolar
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Architecture School, University of Zaragoza, María de Luna 3, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7944-9625
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gracia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017276:Friction; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014520:Urethane / Q000737:chemistry; D016138:Walking; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate; D014520:Urethane