In this project, the fundamental mechanics of bone relaxation will be established in experiments with human cadaveric bone specimens, to define a material law relating stress relaxation to bone density and stress level. Subsequently, the impact of viscoelasticity on TKA will be investigated in stress-relaxation experiments and computational models of implant placement. Finally, its effect on primary fixation will be evaluated in micromotions analyses.

The material models and computational analyses developed in this project provide researchers with better tools to understand the mechanical response of bone and implant fixation, and will provide insights into the consequences of implant design on primary fixation. The ultimate goal is to develop implant systems that last a lifetime, thereby annually preventing 3,000 unnecessary revision surgeries, saving millions of euros in healthcare costs each year.

Researcher for this project: Thomas Gersie