Cf. Scifert et al., A FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING TOTAL HIP DISLOCATION, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (355), 1998, pp. 152-162
A previously validated three-dimensional finite element model was used
to study how several total hip component design and surgical placemen
t variables contribute to resisting the propensity for posterior dislo
cation in the case of leg crossing in an erectly seated position. The
computational formulation incorporated treatments of polyethylene mate
rial nonlinearity and large displacement sliding contact. The primary
outcome measures were the peak intrinsic moment developed to resist di
slocation, and the ranges of motion before neck on lip impingement and
before frank dislocation. Modifications of the acetabular liner desig
n (chamfer bevel angle, lip breadth, head center inset) involved tradi
ng off improved peak resisting moment for compromised range of motion
and vice verse, Increases of head size led to substantial improvements
in peak resisting moment, but if the head to neck diameter ratio was
held constant, had almost no influence on the component range of motio
n. For the leg crossing event studied, increased component anteversion
, and even more so increased tilt (less net abduction), achieved impro
vements in range of motion and in peak resisting moment, but these cha
nges imply diminished resistance to anterior dislocation from extensio
n and adduction motion inputs.