Photoelastic and thermoelastic measurement of stress on the proximal femur before and after implantation of a hip prosthesis with retention of the femoral neck.

This study demonstrated the improved medial support and the transfer of load onto the retained neck of the femur using seven fresh frozen femurs. Results confirm the reliability of the thermoelastic stress analysis method, which is comparable to the photoelastic surface coating method, but with greater sensitivity. The loading pattern after stem implantation shows a homogeneous transfer of force onto the preserved femoral neck. After femoral neck removal, an inhomogeneous increase of the intertrochanteric compression loading was observed. Therefore, improved biomechanical conditions are created for a permanently stable implantation of stem prostheses with retention of the femoral neck.