Speaker: Michel Nganbe, University of Ottawa
Date/Time: Thursday 17 October, 3-4pm
Location: River Building, room 3228, Carleton University
Parking: Paid parking is available (lot P2 suggested)
Registration: Not required, all welcome
Organizer: James Green, IEEE EMBS Ottawa Chapter Secretary
Organizer e-mail: jrgreen@sce.carleton.ca
URL: http://www.embs.ieeeottawa.ca/index.php?page=speaker&speakerName=nganbe&speakerDate=131017

Abstract: Recent premature failures of metal total hip replacements (THRs) have raised concerns about their load bearing capacity, safety, reliability and survival rates. THR failures lead to painful and costly revision surgeries projected to exceed 3.5 billion US dollars per year in 2015 alone for metal-on-metal implants in the United States. The absence of interfaces in non-modular implants eliminates interface corrosion, galling and particle release. However, revision surgeries are more costly as the entire THR needs to be replaced. In contrast, modular implants allow patient specific adjustments and easier revision as components can be replaced separately as required. However, they pose serious challenges with respect to potential toxicity and other adverse body reactions caused by metal particle release from component junctions. Our results show that (1) fretting, galling and wear particle release are accelerated during the initial implantation phase as the components settle; (2) CoCrMo necks exhibit 38% higher load bearing capacity and longer fatigue life compared to Ti6Al4V necks; (3) for younger, more active patients as well as for patients with high body mass index, the implant can over time reach its fatigue limit leading to failure and the need for revision surgery. This illustrates the need for continuous patient monitoring and improved testing standards.