Using Acoustic Vibrations as a Method for Implant Insertion Assessment in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Jonathan C. J. Wei,
Willem H. A. Crezee,
Hilda Jongeneel,
Tobias S. A. De Haas,
Wesley L. A. Kool,
Bryan J. Blaauw,
Jenny Dankelman,
Tim Horeman
Affiliations
Jonathan C. J. Wei
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Willem H. A. Crezee
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Hilda Jongeneel
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Tobias S. A. De Haas
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Wesley L. A. Kool
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Bryan J. Blaauw
Department of Orthopaedics, Elkerliek Hospital, 5707 HA Helmond, The Netherlands
Jenny Dankelman
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
Tim Horeman
Department of BioMechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
The success of total hip arthroplasty depends on the experience of the surgeon, and one of the ways the surgeon currently determines the final implant insertion depth is to listen to the change in audible pitch of the hammering sound. We investigated the use of vibration emissions as a novel method for insertion quality assessment. A non-invasive contact microphone-based measurement system for insertion depth estimation, fixation and fracture detection was developed using a simplified in vitro bone/implant (n = 5). A total of 2583 audio recordings were analyzed in vitro to obtain energy spectral density functions. Out of the four main resonant peaks under in vitro conditions, broach insertion depth statistically correlates to increasing 3rd and 4th peak frequencies. Degree of fixation was also observed as higher goodness of fit (0.26–0.78 vs. 0.12–0.51 between two broach sizes, the latter undersized). Finally, however, the moment of fracture could not be predicted. A cadaveric in situ pilot study suggests comparable resonant frequencies in the same order of magnitudes with the bone model. Further understanding of the signal patterns are needed for an early warning system diagnostic system for imminent fractures, bone damage, improving accuracy and quality of future procedures.
