Possible reasons for early artificial bone failure in biomechanical tests of ankle arthrodesis systems

Abstract

In order to demonstrate the influence of the boundary conditions in experimental biomechanical investigations of arthrodesis implants two different models were investigated. As basic model, a simplified finite element model of the cortical bone was used in order to compare the stress values with (Model 1) and without (Model 2) allowing horizontal displacements of the load application point. The model without constraints of horizontal displacements showed considerably higher stress values at the point of failure. Moreover, this investigation shows that the boundary conditions (e.g. constraints) have to be carefully considered, since simplifications of the reality with experimental tests cannot always be avoided.

Keywords

• biomechanics
• ankle arthrodesis
• osteosynthesis