Validity of synthetic bone as a substitutefor osteoporotic cadaveric femoral heads in mechanical testing: A biomechanical study. Issue 4 (April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Neill, F.; Condon, F.; McGloughlin, T.; Lenehan, B.; Coffey, C.; Walsh, M.
• Is Part Of: Bone & joint research. Volume 1:Issue 4(2012)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2012-04
• Subjects: Intertrochanteric fracture -- Biomechanical study -- Artificial bone substitute -- DHS -- DHS Blade -- Osteoporotic Bone; Musculoskeletal system -- Periodicals; 573.705
• DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.14.2000044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-3758

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine if a synthetic bonesubstitute would provide results similar to bone from osteoporoticfemoral heads during in vitro testing with orthopaedicimplants. If the synthetic material could produce results similarto those of the osteoporotic bone, it could reduce or eliminatethe need for testing of implants on bone. Methods: Pushout studies were performed with the dynamic hip screw (DHS)and the DHS Blade in both cadaveric femoral heads and artificialbone substitutes in the form of polyurethane foam blocks of differentdensity. The pushout studies were performed as a means of comparingthe force displacement curves produced by each implant within eachmaterial. Results: The results demonstrated that test material with a density of0.16 g/cm 3 (block A) produced qualitatively similar forcedisplacement curves for the DHS and qualitatively and quantitativelysimilar force displacement curves for the DHS Blade, whereas thetest material with a density of 0.08 g/cm 3 (block B)did not produce results that were predictive of those recorded withinthe osteoporotic cadaveric femoral heads. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that synthetic material with a densityof 0.16 g/cm 3 can provide a good substitute for cadavericosteoporotic femoral heads in the testing of implants. However wedo recognise that no synthetic material can be considered as a definitivesubstitute for bone, therefore studies performed with artificialbone substrates may need to be validated by further testing witha small bone sample in order to produce conclusive results.