The load carrying and fatigue properties of the stem-cement interface with smooth and porous coated femoral components.

Porous coated surfaces for fixation of total hip replacement are a current trend in clinical orthopedics. Such devices are designed to be fixed by ingrowth of bony tissue, although in the absence of FDA approval for biologic fixation, fixation with PMMA cement is recommended by the implant manufacturers. In order to characterize the mechanical properties of the micro-interlocked stem-cement interface, we tested both porous coated and smooth femoral components in cement mantles of consistent overall geometry. Under conditions of increasing load the smooth stems demonstrated stepwise irreversible subsidence into the mantle. Axial and circumferential strains measured in the cement containment vessels with the smooth stems showed that stepwise increases in tensile hoop strain occurred concomitantly with the stepwise incidents of stem subsidence. When subjected to the same loading conditions, the porous coated stems did not undergo stepwise incidents of subsidence, and hoop strain generation was reduced. In addition, a twofold increase in the failure load of the stem-cement interface was measured with the porous coated stems. Fatigue loading for 10(7) loading cycles did not result in gross failure of either the micro-interlocked or smooth interfaces. However, the data showed that during fatigue loading, stepwise subsidence of the smooth stems again occurred. The final subsidence magnitude of the smooth stem-cement interface at 10(7) loading cycles was six times greater than the value associated with the porous coated stem. Thus the porous coating of femoral stems was shown to dramatically improve the load carrying capability and fatigue characteristics of the stem-cement interface.