PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Del Schutte

Publications and source records attributed to H Del Schutte.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Progressive failure analysis of laminated composite femoral prostheses for total hip arthroplasty.

In this research program, a numerical method was developed to predict the progressive failure of a thick laminated composite femoral component for total hip arthroplasty. A 3-D global/local technique was used to capture the overall structural response of this system while also enabling the 3-D ply level stress state to be determined efficiently and accurately. Different failure criteria and different material degradation models were incorporated as individual subroutines in the numerical method, giving it the flexibility to model a wide range of materials and structures. Numerical modeling was also conducted to design experimental test methods for component fatigue testing that closely simulate in vivo loading conditions. Parametric studies were then conducted with the numerical model of the experimental system and the results were compared to the actual experimentally determined damage behavior of fabricated laminated composite femoral component to assess which parameter set most accurately predicted the actual damage development behavior. The best fitting parameter set was then applied to the failure problem of the composite hip prosthesis implanted in an anatomically modeled femur to predict in vivo performance. This work provides a ply level understanding of the damage behavior of laminated composite femoral components and a numerical tool which can serve as a guide for the design of fatigue resistant implants made from composite material for this and other implant applications.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

Noncompliance in the inpatient administration of enoxaparin in conjunction with epidural or spinal anesthesia.

Deep venous thrombosis is 1 of the most common postoperative complications resulting in significant mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Research has shown that the effectiveness and safety of low-molecular-weight heparins depend on the timeliness of their administration, particularly when used in conjunction with spinal or epidural anesthesia, both of which are effective and safe treatment modalities for knee and hip arthroplasty. The focus of this study was to examine the compliance with current protocols in the administration of enoxaparin (Lovenox) to patients who had undergone total joint arthroplasty. We reviewed the perioperative management of patients who had a total hip or total knee arthroplasty in which there was the combined use of epidural or spinal anesthesia and enoxaparin. Our results show a 52% (26 of 50) noncompliance rate in the administration of enoxaparin as compared with the published protocol for using this treatment modality safely and effectively.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Mechanical stability of polyethylene liners cemented into acetabular shells.

Revision of well-fixed, metal-backed acetabular components for dislocation or polyethylene failure requires consideration of removing the entire construct or replacing the polyethylene liner only. For non-modular or first-generation modular components with poor locking mechanisms, one option is to cement undersized liners into well-fixed shells. The purpose of this study was to measure the stability of undersized liners cemented into metal acetabular shells and compare the results with those of modular components. Hooded polyethylene liners measuring 28 x 50 mm and 28 x 56 mm were cemented into 66-mm acetabular shells (Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN) with Simplex-P polymethylmethacrylate cement (Howmedica, Inc., Rutherford, NJ) giving 4- and 2-mm cement mantles, respectively. The force required to lever-out the liners from the shells was measured using the protocol described by Tradonsky et al. Assemblies with 4-mm mantles dissociated at an average of 322 +/- 47 in-lbf.; however, the assemblies with 2-mm mantles would not dissociate before the polyethylene yielded at torques as high as 600 in-lbf. These results compare favorably with the previously reported range (43 to 684 in-lbf) for modular acetabular components. These results suggest that undersized polyethylene liners can be cemented into well-fixed acetabular shells and expected to be stable.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

Effects of acetabular abduction on cup wear rates in total hip arthroplasty.

This study was designed to determine the effect of acetabular abduction on the polyethylene wear rates of the acetabular component. The hypothesis of this study is that acetabular placement, in particular abduction, effects contact forces and therefore polyethylene wear. A total of 364 total hip arthroplasties that were performed between 1974 and 1976 were included in this study. The cemented all-polyethylene acetabular components were the same for each case and came from a single supplier. The polyethylene wear rates were calculated by measuring the shortest radius from the center of the prosthetic femoral head to a point on the outer surface of the acetabular cup. An immediate postoperative radiograph was compared with a follow-up radiograph at least 9.5 years later. A standardized radiograph was used to prevent differences due to magnification. The abduction or inclination of the acetabular cups was measured in all of the patients. The amount of acetabular cup abduction was measured relative to the ischial tuberosity line. The mean abduction was 44.1 degrees with a standard deviation of 9.2 degrees and a median of 44 degrees. The range of abduction was from 0 degrees to 85 degrees. This analysis failed to show a correlation between the amount of acetabular abduction and polyethylene wear rates (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.0679; P = .20). With a sample size of 364, there is over a 95% change (statistical power) of detecting an underlying true correlation between wear and abduction that is greater than or equal to 0.20. We were unable to demonstrate a difference in wear that would correlate with the differing degrees of abduction of the acetabular socket. We felt that the radiographic measurements of wear were quite accurate. This method of determining acetabular abduction has also been documented and supported in previous literature and has allowed us to accurately determine acetabular abduction. The results of our study demonstrate that within the normal ranges described by our study, polyethylene wear did not significantly increase with increased abduction of the acetabular component.

Acetabulum↗

Magnetic resonance imaging differentiates between necrotizing and non-necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremity.

BACKGROUND: Distinction between uncomplicated infective fasciitis and early necrotizing fasciitis can be extremely difficult without operation, yet the management and prognosis of both conditions depend greatly on early recognition and assessment of the extent of involvement. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective review of the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in nine patients with suspected infective or necrotizing fasciitis treated at an academic medical center or a Veterans Administration hospital. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging documented fascial inflammation, characterized by low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images, in all nine patients. Absence of gadolinium contrast enhancement on T1-weighted images reliably detected fascial necrosis in all six patients who required operative debridement. Magnetic resonance imaging was extremely useful in defining the extent of fasciitis and was more accurate in predicting necrosis or pyomyositis than was myoglobinuria or elevation of serum creatine kinase or lactate dehydrogenase. Operation was avoided in two patients without evidence of necrosis on MRI. One patient without evidence of necrosis, explored because of contradictory clinical findings, was confirmed at operation to have cellulitis without necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium contrast accurately determines the presence of necrosis and the need for operation in patients with fasciitis of the lower extremity. Preoperative determination of the extent of involvement facilitates operative planning.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Is duplex venous surveillance worthwhile after arthroplasty?

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) complicates 60% of knee and 80% of hip arthroplasties performed without prophylactic therapy. Routine postoperative duplex ultrasound surveillance has been proposed for the detection of venous thrombosis following arthroplasty. In order to determine whether surveillance represents an effective strategy to detect postoperative DVT when prophylaxis is used, surveillance duplex exams obtained after primary or revision hip or knee arthroplasty were analyzed using decision analysis techniques. DVT was suspected clinically after 95 of 738 (13%) arthroplasties, with no symptoms suggestive of DVT after the remaining 643 procedures. Surveillance duplex scans were performed within 2 weeks of 371 procedures, while no surveillance studies were performed after the remaining 272 procedures. In these asymptomatic patients only 2 (0.5%) surveillance duplex studies were positive for DVT. In contrast, 4 of 37 (11%) duplex exams and 5 of 62 (8%) contrast phlebograms performed among symptomatic patients were positive for DVT. The overall incidence of DVT after arthroplasty in the entire population was 1.4% (10/738) with no pulmonary emboli. Patient follow-up averaged 162 +/- 285 days. Using the 1995 Medicare reimbursement of $163 for venous duplex, the incremental cost was $35,000 to detect 1 additional unsuspected DVT and $110,000 per additional quality-adjusted life-year gained. The low incidence of clinically significant DVT and pulmonary emboli with current prophylaxis does not justify an aggressive screening program. Decision analysis suggests that a greater incidence of DVT is required for screening to be worthwhile.

Adolescent↗

Long-term compressive property durability of carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone composite in physiological saline.

In total hip arthroplasty, concerns such as corrosion and stress shielding associated with stiff metallic femoral components have led to the development of low stiffness advanced fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite femoral components. Carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) composite material is now one of the primary material systems being considered for composite hip stem development. As a hip stem, a composite material must be able to support a complex state of stress in the in vivo environment without failure. Considering the loading conditions of a hip stem (superimposed compression and bending), and the fact that FRP composites typically possess lower compressive than tensile strength, the compressive behaviour of FRP composites becomes very important for femoral component design. This paper presents an investigation of the long-term durability of 0 degree and 90 degrees compressive strengths of CF/PEEK composite following physiological saline saturation. 0 degree and 90 degrees compressive moduli and Poisson ratio (v12) properties are also reported. Samples were tested following conditioning in physiological saline at 37, 65 and 95 degrees C for time periods from 0 to 5000 h. Dry samples were tested as controls. Results show no significant loss in compressive property values of the saline-saturated or the dry control samples as a function of conditioning time or temperature.

Benzophenones↗

Long-term durability of the interface in FRP composites after exposure to simulated physiologic saline environments.

Fiber/matrix interfacial bond strength significantly influences the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Interfacial bond strength durability is therefore particularly important in the development of FRP composites for implant applications where diffused moisture may potentially weaken the material over time. In this study, the long-term durability of interfacial bonding in carbon fiber/380 grade polyetheretherketone (C/PEEK) and carbon fiber/polysulfone (C/PSF) composites was investigated after exposure to hygrothermal environments. A single fiber pull-out test was used to quantitatively determine the ultimate bond strength (UBS) of the samples following exposure. Samples were tested at three temperatures (37, 65, and 95 degrees C) for six time periods (0-5000 h) and in two environments (dry and physiologic saline-immersed). A mathematical model based on nth order chemical reaction kinetics was applied to describe the long-term durability of the interface. The results of this study indicate that interfacial bond strengths in C/PSF and C/PEEK (380 grade) composites are significantly decreased by exposure to physiologic saline and are functions of both time and temperature. For each material, the kinetics of degradation analysis predicts further bond strength losses following initial saturation, which then stabilizes at temperature-dependent equilibrium bond strength levels.

Benzophenones↗

Failure analysis of composite femoral components for hip arthroplasty.

In this research, a numerical method was developed for predicting the progressive failure of thick laminated composite femoral components. A three-dimensional (3-D) global/ 3-D local technique was developed to capture the overall structural response of this system, while also enabling the 3-D ply-level stress state to be determined efficiently and accurately. Different failure criteria and material degradation models were incorporated in the method, giving it the flexibility to model a wide range of materials and structures. Numerical modeling was also conducted to design experimental test methods to simulate in vivo loading conditions for component fatigue tests. Parametric studies were then conducted with the numerical model of the experimental system. Next, we compared the results to the damage behavior of the experimentally determined laminated composite femoral component to assess which parameter set most accurately predicted the actual damage development behavior. We then applied the best-fitting parameter set to analyze simulated in situ composite femoral components. Results showed that this methodology efficiently and accurately predicted damage initiation and propagation. This research demonstrates how analytical and numerical models may be used before conducting extensive experimental tests as initial tools to evaluate components for the design of composite hip implants that possess a high level of damage resistance and damage tolerance.

Equipment Failure Analysis↗