Novel approach for designing a low weight hip implant used in total hip arthroplasty adopting skeletal design techniques.

Aseptic loosening is the major cause of failure of hip implants after total hip arthroplasty. Stress shielding of the femur is known to be the principal factor involved in the aseptic loosening of hip implants. Solid stems are found to have a greater rigidity; therefore, they transfer less load proximally, which results in greater stress shielding of the proximal femur. A stem of low stiffness alone would not suffice in achieving a reduced or optimal stress shielding. The femoral stem of the light weight hip implant has a skeletal design with a hexagonal base and neck cross-section. This novel design would ameliorate the implant fixation, aid in optimal rigidity, enhance the medullary revascularization, and offer better mobility to the patient.