The influence of the stem-cement interface in total hip replacement--a comparison of experimental and finite element approaches

Experimental and finite element investigations were carried out on axisymmetric models of the femoral component of a total hip replacement. In one instance, the interface between the stem and the surrounding bone cement was assumed to be rigidly bonded; in a second, it was allowed to slip. For the latter case, a friction coefficient of 0.2 was determined experimentally. The predictions of the finite element models demonstrated excellent agreement with the results from the experimental tests at all sites where comparisons were made, thus validating these models. The effect of stem-cement slip was shown to reduce the maximum shear stress in the cement mantle by approximately 30 per cent