Background: Hypothesized risk factors for fracture of ceramic liners include impingement, edge-loading, and cup malpositioning. These risk factors are similar to those for generation of stripe wear. However, it is unclear whether the biomechanical conditions contributing to stripe wear generation also increase the risk for ceramic liner fracture
Questions/purposes: We asked whether (1) head stripe wear propensity; and (2) cup orientation would correlate with alumina liner fracture risk for instances of normal and elevated body weight.
Methods: An eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) model was developed to investigate these mechanisms. Liner fracture risk for 36-mm alumina bearings was studied by simulating two fracture-prone motions: stooping and squatting. Twenty-five distinct cup orientations were considered with variants of both acetabular inclination and anteversion. Four separate body mass indices were considered: normal (25 kg/m(2)) and three levels of obesity (33, 42, and 50 kg/m(2)). Material properties were modified to simulate alumina with and without the presence of dispersed microflaws. The model was validated by corroboration with two previously published ceramic liner fracture studies.
Results: Of 200 XFEM simulations with flaw-free alumina, fracture occurred in eight instances, all of them involving obesity. Each of these occurred with cups in ≤ 37° inclination and in 0° anteversion. For 200 corresponding simulations with microflawed alumina, fracture propensity was greatest for cups with higher (edge loading-associated) scraping wear. Fracture risk was greatest for cups with lower inclination (average 42° for fractured cases versus 48° for nonfractured cases) and lower anteversion (9° versus 20°).
Conclusions: Fracture propensity for 36-mm liners was elevated for cups with decreased anteversion and/or inclination and under conditions of patient obesity.
Clinical relevance: Factors causing stripe wear, including obesity and cup malpositioning, also involve increased risk of ceramic liner fracture and merit heightened concern.