Finite element analysis of the behavior of elliptical cracks emanating from the orthopedic cement interface in total hip prostheses

This study examines crack behavior within orthopedic cement utilized in total hip replacements through the finite element method. Its main goal is to compute stress intensity factors (SIF) near the crack tip. The analysis encompasses two load types, static and dynamic, applied to a crack starting from the interface between the cement and bone. Specifically, it investigates SIFs under mixed mode conditions during three activities: normal walking, climbing upstairs, and downstairs. The results highlight that a crack originating from a micro-interface under substantial loading can cause cement damage, leading to prosthetic loosening. Stress intensity factors in modes I, II, and III are influenced by the crack tip's orientation and location in the bone cement, with a 90o orientation yielding notably higher values across all three modes.