Finite element stress analysis of some ankle joint prostheses.

A three-dimensional finite element stress analysis was employed to calculate stresses in a distal tibia modelled with three simple total ankle joint replacement tibial components. The bone was modelled as a composite structure consisting of cortical and trabecular bone in which the trabecular bone was either homogeneous with a constant modulus of elasticity or heterogenous with experimentally determined heterogeneity. The results were sensitive to variations in trabecular bone material property distributions, with lower stresses being calculated in the heterogeneous model. An anterolateral application of load, which proved the least favourable, was used in comparing the prosthetic variants. Normal and shear stresses at the trabecular bone-cement interface and supporting trabecular bone were slightly reduced by addition of metal backing to the polyethylene articular surface, and a further reduction to very low values was obtained by addition of a long intramedullary peg bypassing stresses to the cortical bone.