WEBINAR

Automating Key Components of Finite Element Research

by Ir. Amelie Sas

In total hip replacement surgery, most traditional designs of femur components have a long stem. Short hip stems have only recently been introduced, and these are presumed to reduce proximal stress shielding compared to traditional, long stems.

However, due to their smaller contact area with the bone, high peak stresses and areas of stress shielding could appear in the proximal femur, especially in the presence of atypical bone geometries. Researchers at the University of Leuven and University Hospital of Brussels wanted to better understand this aspect by virtually implanting a commercially available calcar-guided short stem (Optimys from Mathys AG, Bettlach, Germany) in a series of bones with deviating proximal geometry, and by performing finite element analyses. However, to investigate a wide range of femurs, a large number of finite element models had to be created.

As this is time-consuming and labor-intensive work, it introduced the need for an automated methodology that would allow the team to assess the implant's performance. Learn how they automated key components of this element study in this webinar.