Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Engineering Science

Program

Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Supervisor

Dr. Cynthia Dunning

Abstract

Implant loosening following joint replacement surgery is a health-care concern. The role of implant-cement debonding on the propensity of loosening has received limited attention. This thesis examines changes in strains within the cement mantle and bone surrounding distal ulnar implants, as a function of cement-stem interface bonding.

A method to embed strain gauges within the cement mantle of the restrictive distal ulnar canal was developed. This technique was applied in 8 cadaveric distal ulnae, where strains were quantified at 2 internal and 5 external (i.e., bone surface) locations under torsion and bending loads with bonded and de-bonded cement-stem interfaces. For a bonded stem, the distal-most external strains increased under all loading scenarios, while proximal internal strains increased only under torsional loading (p

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