Analyzing bone remodeling patterns after total hip arthroplasty using quantitative computed tomography and patient-specific 3D computational models

New Evaluation Method for Bone Formation around a Fully Hydroxyapatite-Coated Stem Using Digital Tomosynthesis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) is a new imaging technique derived from radiography, and its usefulness has been gradually reported in the field of orthopedic diagnosis in recent years. A fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stem, which is used for total hip arthroplasty (THA), is a type of cementless stem that has been widely used recently and reported to have good results. However, stem loosening on plain radiographs is difficult to determine in some cases due to cancellous condensation around the stem. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we compared the results of plain radiography versus DTS to evaluate the imaging findings after THA using a fully HA-coated stem. Twenty joints each in the 3 y and 1 y postoperative groups underwent plain radiography and DTS. On DTS, bone formation around the stem was confirmed in all cases; however, this formation was not reproducible on plain radiography, and there were cases in which the reaction could not be confirmed or cases with cancellous condensation resembling reactive lines. This reaction was not reproducible on plain radiographs, and in some cases, the reaction could not be confirmed, or there were cases with cancellous condensation that resembled reactive lines. Therefore, DTS was useful in the diagnosis of bone formation around the implant.

Biomechanical Behavior of an Hydroxyapatite-Coated Traditional Hip Stem and a Short One of Similar Design: Comparative Study Using Finite Element Analysis

Background

The objective is to compare, by the means of finite elements analysis, the biomechanical behavior of a conventional stem of proven performance with a short stem based on the same fixation principles.

Methods

A 3D femur was modeled from CT scan data, and real bone density measures were incorporated into it. Load stresses were applied to that bone in 3 different scenarios: without prosthesis, with the conventional stem, and with the short stem. Different bone loading patterns were compared by Gruen’s zones both visually and statistically using Welch’s test.

Results

The implantation of a stem generates a certain degree of stress shielding in the surrounding bone, but the pattern of the change is very similar in the compared stem models. Although there is statistical significance (P < 0.01) in the mean stress variation in most of the Gruen’s zones, the magnitude of the difference is always under 2 MPa (range: 0.01 – 1.74 MPa).

Conclusions

The bone loading patterns of the traditional stem and the short stem are very similar. Although there is no evidence of a link between biomechanics and clinical outcomes, our results may suggest that theoretical advantages of short stems can be exploited without the fear of altering bone loading patterns.

Evaluation of peri-prosthetic radiolucent lines surrounding the cementless femoral stem using digital tomosynthesis with metal artifact reduction: a cadaveric study in comparison with radiography and computed tomography

Background

The traditional criterion for the diagnosis of implant loosening in total hip arthroplasty (THA) was once defined as a radiolucent line of >2 mm in width, based on plain radiography. Recent progress in imaging technology has allowed for the identification of complete radiolucent lines of ≤2 mm around the whole prosthesis as the basis for diagnosing component loosening in the absence of component migration. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of digital tomosynthesis with metal artifact reduction with those of radiography and conventional computed tomography (CT) for detecting radiolucent lines of ≤2 mm surrounding cementless femoral stems of different widths.

Methods

The medullary canals of 4 cadaveric femurs were broached to 13 mm in diameter. Cylindrical cementless femoral stems with diameters of 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 mm were sequentially inserted into each femur, creating 5 groups of radiolucent lines 2.0, 1.5-1.6, 1.1-1.2, 0.5-0.6, and 0 mm in diameter, respectively. Imaging by tomosynthesis, radiography, and CT was conducted for each radiolucent line model. The width information of the radiolucent line models was used as a reference standard for calculating sensitivity and specificity: observations in the group of 0 mm were used for calculating specificity, and those in the other four groups were used for sensitivity. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between the imaging methods were compared with chi-square test, and the 95% confidence intervals of improvements in the sensitivity and specificity of tomosynthesis compared with radiography and CT were calculated using mixed effects models.

Results

The overall sensitivity of tomosynthesis (63.3%) for detecting radiolucent lines ≤2 mm wide was significantly higher (P<0.017) than that of radiography (20.5%) and CT (50.2%), an improvement of 58.2%±3.1% (95% CI, P<0.001) and 21.7%±7.1% (95% CI, P<0.001) compared to radiography and CT, respectively. The sensitivity values for detecting radiolucent lines in all four groups by tomosynthesis and CT were significantly higher than those of radiography (P<0.017). Tomosynthesis also had significantly higher sensitivity than CT (P<0.017) in detecting radiolucent line ≤1.2 mm wide. The specificity of TMAR, radiography, and CT for detecting radiolucent lines was 87.5%, 92.5%, and 82.5%, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.017).

Conclusions

Digital tomosynthesis with metal artifact reduction had significantly higher sensitivity than radiography for detecting radiolucent lines ≤2 mm wide surrounding cementless femoral stems. It also displayed higher sensitivity than CT for detecting radiolucent lines ≤1.2 mm in width. With a higher rate of detection for radiolucent lines narrower than 2 mm, tomosynthesis has the potential to improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of cementless THA stem loosening in clinical practice.

Influence of Hydroxyapatite Coating for the Prevention of Bone Mineral Density Loss and Bone Metabolism after Total Hip Arthroplasty: Assessment Using 18F-Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry by Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Hydroxyapatite- (HA-) coated implants tend to achieve good osteoinductivity and stable clinical results; however, the influence of the coating on the prevention of bone mineral density (BMD) loss around the implant is unclear. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of HA-coated implants for preventing BMD loss and to determine the status of bone remodeling after total hip arthroplasty (THA), making comparisons with non-HA-coated implants.

Methods

A total of 52 patients who underwent primary THA were randomly allocated to HA and non-HA groups. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at 1 week postoperation to form a baseline measurement, and then 24 weeks and 48 weeks after surgery. The relative change in BMD was evaluated for regions of interest (ROIs) based on the Gruen zone classifications. ¹⁸F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) was performed at 24 weeks postsurgery, and the maximum standardized uptake values (SUV_max) were evaluated in the proximal (HA-coated) and distal (non-HA-coated) areas in both groups.

Results

There were significant differences in BMD loss in ROIs 3 and 6 (p = 0.03), while no significant difference was observed in ROI 7 at either 24 or 48 weeks postsurgery. There was no significant correlation between PET uptake and BMD (24 or 48 weeks) in either group.

Conclusion

The influence of a HA coating in terms of BMD preservation is limited. No significant correlation was found between BMD and SUV_max measured by PET, either with or without the use of a HA coating.

High periprosthetic bone mineral density measured in immediate postoperative period may not guarantee less periprosthetic bone loss in the proximal femur after cementless total hip arthroplasty - A retrospective study

Background

Total hip arthroplasty is the most common orthopaedic procedure for the end-stage hip diseases. Periprosthetic bone loss is closely related to the increased risk of implant loosening and periprosthetic fractures, but the predictive value of periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) measured immediately after surgery has not yet been investigated.

Methods

From April 2015 to October 2017, 64 patients with femoral neck fracture, hip osteoarthritis, femoral head necrosis, or developmental dysplasia of the hip underwent unilateral total hip arthroplasty. Demographic data, bone mineral density of the hip and spine, periprosthetic BMD of 7 Gruen zones, and radiographic parameters measured preoperatively, 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery were collected. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Significant decreases of the periprosthetic BMD were found in Gruen zone 1 (− 8.0%; p < 0.05), Gruen zone 2 (− 6.3%; p < 0.05), Gruen zone 7 (− 8.6%; p < 0.05), and total Gruen zone (− 4.7%; p < 0.05) in the first postoperative year, compared with the values measured 1 week after surgery. The relationship between the preoperative BMD of the hip/spine and the BMD of Gruen zone 1 and Gruen zone 7 measured 1 week after surgery did not reach statistical significance. The multiple linear regression analysis illustrated that the bone loss in Gruen zone 7 at the end of the follow-up period was negatively affected (β = − 0.703) by the BMD of Gruen zone 7 measured 1 week after surgery, with a R² of 0.486 (p < 0.05). Similar results were also found in Gruen zone 1 (β = − 0.448, R² = 0.186; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There were marked decreases in periprosthetic BMD of the proximal femur in the first postoperative year. The predictive values of preoperative BMD of hip and spine on periprosthetic bone loss after THA were limited. Higher periprosthetic BMD measured in immediate postoperative period may not guarantee less periprosthetic bone loss in the proximal femur after cementless THA.

Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) derived Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in finite element studies: a review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Finite element modeling of human bone provides a powerful tool to evaluate a wide variety of outcomes in a highly repeatable and parametric manner. These models are most often derived from computed tomography data, with mechanical properties related to bone mineral density (BMD) from the x-ray energy attenuation provided from this data. To increase accuracy, many researchers report the use of quantitative computed tomography (QCT), in which a calibration phantom is used during image acquisition to improve the estimation of BMD. Since model accuracy is dependent on the methods used in the calculation of BMD and density-mechanical property relationships, it is important to use relationships developed for the same anatomical location and using the same scanner settings, as these may impact model accuracy. The purpose of this literature review is to report the relationships used in the conversion of QCT equivalent density measures to ash, apparent, and/or tissue densities in recent finite element (FE) studies used in common density-modulus relationships. For studies reporting experimental validation, the validation metrics and results are presented.

RESULTS

Of the studies reviewed, 29% reported the use of a dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4) phantom, 47% a hydroxyapatite (HA) phantom, 13% did not report phantom type, 7% reported use of both K2HPO4 and HA phantoms, and 4% alternate phantom types. Scanner type and/or settings were omitted or partially reported in 31% of studies. The majority of studies used densitometric and/or density-modulus relationships derived from different anatomical locations scanned in different scanners with different scanner settings. The methods used to derive various densitometric relationships are reported and recommendations are provided toward the standardization of reporting metrics.

CONCLUSIONS

This review assessed the current state of QCT-based FE modeling with use of clinical scanners. It was found that previously developed densitometric relationships vary by anatomical location, scanner type and settings. Reporting of all parameters used when referring to previously developed relationships, or in the development of new relationships, may increase the accuracy and repeatability of future FE models.