Accurate diagnosis of bone degradation-induced prosthesis loosening using harmonic vibration analysis: An experimental study with a simplified model
Qingsong Zhou, L. R. Francis Rose, Benjamin Steven Vien, Peter R. Ebeling, Matthias Russ, Mark Fitzgerald, Wing Kong Chiu
Abstract. The Osseointegration Prosthetic Limb is a transfemoral implant that attaches the prosthesis directly to the bone, providing greater comfort than a traditional socket. However, transferring load to an implant can induce stress shielding and bone resorption, potentially leading to loosening and pain. This experimental study investigates the nonlinear vibration response of a simplified femur-implant model as the basis for a non-invasive strategy to monitor implant loosening. Three femur-implant assemblies were constructed with prescribed levels of interference fit between the bone and implant. To mimic bone degradation due to stress shielding, bone thickness was reduced by material removal, which led to a reduction of contact stability. In the vibration analysis, a static longitudinal gait force was applied at the distal end of the implant to preload it with a load representative of the compression experienced during walking. Subsequently, the model was excited at the resonant frequency of the first torsional vibration mode to assess interfacial contact. Slippage at the interface occurs when the interfacial shear stress exceeds a prescribed critical threshold, leading to the generation of higher-order harmonics in the vibration response. The evolution of these harmonics was analysed in relation to the magnitude of torsional excitation and contact stability. Results suggest that the presence of the higher-order harmonic serves as a reliable indicator of interfacial slippage, and the corresponding load level provides a quantitative index of the implant’s load-bearing capacity. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using nonlinear vibration analysis, as a non-invasive means of assessing the criticality of the bone-implant interface.
Keywords
Implant Loosening Monitoring, Vibration Analysis, Harmonic, Transfemoral Osseo-integrated Prosthesis
Published online 3/25/2025, 8 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Qingsong Zhou, L. R. Francis Rose, Benjamin Steven Vien, Peter R. Ebeling, Matthias Russ, Mark Fitzgerald, Wing Kong Chiu, Accurate diagnosis of bone degradation-induced prosthesis loosening using harmonic vibration analysis: An experimental study with a simplified model, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 50, pp 269-276, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903513-31
The article was published as article 31 of the book Structural Health Monitoring
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
References
[1] Overmann, A.; Forsberg, J. The state of the art of osseointegration for limb prosthesis. Biomed Eng Lett 2020, 10, 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-019-00133-9
[2] Prochor, P.; Sajewicz, E. The Influence of Geometry of Implants for Direct Skeletal Attachment of Limb Prosthesis on Rehabilitation Program and Stress-Shielding Intensity. Biomed Res Int 2019, 2019, 6067952. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6067952
[3] Wiese, A.; DiGuglielmo, A.; Mellet, J.; Rebillon, M.; Mandayam, S.; Brewer, E.; Austin, L. A Radial Basis Function Technique for the Early Detection and Measurement of Hip Implant Loosening. 2020; pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1109/SAS48726.2020.9220036
[4] Patil, N.; Goodman, S.B. 7 – Wear particles and osteolysis. In Orthopaedic Bone Cements, Deb, S., Ed.; Woodhead Publishing: 2008; pp. 140-163. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781845695170.1.140
[5] Parlee, L.; Kagan, R.; Doung, Y.C.; Hayden, J.B.; Gundle, K.R. Compressive osseointegration for endoprosthetic reconstruction. Orthop Rev (Pavia) 2020, 12. https://doi.org/10.4081/or.2020.8646
[6] Frost, H.M. A 2003 update of bone physiology and Wolff’s Law for clinicians. The Angle Orthodontist 2004, 74, 3-15.
[7] Nebergall, A.; Bragdon, C.; Antonellis, A.; Kärrholm, J.; Brånemark, R.; Malchau, H. Stable fixation of an osseointegated implant system for above-the-knee amputees: titel RSA and radiographic evaluation of migration and bone remodeling in 55 cases. Acta orthopaedica 2012, 83, 121-128. https://doi.org/10.3109/17453674.2012.678799
[8] Cachão, J.H.; Soares dos Santos, M.P.; Bernardo, R.; Ramos, A.; Bader, R.; Ferreira, J.A.F.; Torres Marques, A.; Simões, J.A.O. Altering the Course of Technologies to Monitor Loosening States of Endoprosthetic Implants. Sensors 2020, 20, 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20010104
[9] Rosenstein, A.D.; McCoy, G.F.; Bulstrode, C.J.; McLardy-Smith, P.D.; Cunningham, J.L.; Turner-Smith, A.R. The differentiation of loose and secure femoral implants in total hip replacement using a vibrational technique: an anatomical and pilot clinical study. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 1989, 203, 77-81. https://doi.org/10.1243/PIME_PROC_1989_203_014_01
[10] Li, P.L.; Jones, N.B.; Gregg, P.J. Vibration analysis in the detection of total hip prosthetic loosening. Med Eng Phys 1996, 18, 596-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/1350-4533(96)00004-5
[11] Georgiou, A.P.; Cunningham, J.L. Accurate diagnosis of hip prosthesis loosening using a vibrational technique. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2001, 16, 315-323. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00002-X
[12] Zhou, Q.; Rose, L.R.F.; Ebeling, P.; Russ, M.; Fitzgerald, M.; Chiu, W.K. Harmonic Vibration Analysis in a Simplified Model for Monitoring Transfemoral Implant Loosening. Sensors 2024, 24, 6453. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24196453
[13] Imaninejad, M.; Subhash, G. Proportional loading of thick-walled cylinders. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping 2005, 82, 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2004.07.013
