SHIELD

Acetabular and femoral bone resorption is one of the few remaining clinical challenges to be addressed when considering the long term success of orthopaedic joint replacements, particularly in hip prostheses. Bone resorption around the proximal femoral stem and acetabular cup due to stress shielding contributes to bone loss and reduced bone mineral density, ultimately leading to clinical complications such as periprosthetic fracture, aseptic loosening, joint pain and the loss of bone. The aim of project SHIELD is to develop novel acetabular and femoral components that minimise bone resorption. This will be achieved through a combination of component design and material optimisation by which the load transfer from prosthesis to bone will attempt to mimic bone stress levels pre-operation. Bone resorption during the ageing process will be predicted through finite element models of the physiological scenario derived from in-vivo CT/MRI images. These models will allow state-of-the-art optimisation algorithms to be employed for the implant design and subsequent analyses. Structural integrity will be tested through a series of laboratory tests including cadaveric studies, that will validate predictions from finite element models and evaluate clinical viability. Tribological performance and biocompatibility studies will be evaluated through state-of-the-art methodologies.