| INVESTIGATION OF THE CEMENT MANTLE STRESS IN THE ACETABULAR COMPONENT AFTER TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY (THA) Hip replacement surgery is a common orthopaedic operation undertaken in order to repair a broken hip or to relieve pain due to osteoarthritis. In the UK alone, a total of 890,681 THA were performed between 2003 and 2016. In total hip arthroplasty surgery the acetabulum is prepared and a cup shaped shell and liner put in place of the worn cartilage and bone. The prosthetic joint is completed by a metal stem with a hip ball attached to the neck being inserted into the femur. A variety of designs and materials are now used for the components of the prosthesis. In terms of the acetabular component, the choice is between a cementless implant (metal shells) and a cemented implant (polyethylene shell). Hip replacements do however, have a finite life and wear out and fail in which case revision hip surgery is required. Liner wear and aseptic loosening are two acetabulum related components that can lead to failure of the implant. This project is in partnership with an orthopaedic consultant form Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. |
