Stress analysis of a condylar knee tibial component: influence of metaphyseal shell properties and cement injection depth.

We generated three-dimensional finite element models of the proximal tibia with an implanted tibial component. The component features a cobalt-chromium tray with four short vertical posts and a porous-coated surface for improved fixation to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). We examined the stresses after varying: the structural rigidity of the metaphyseal cortical shell; the surface area of the cobalt-chromium tray; and the depth of pressure-injected PMMA bone cement. Our results indicate that previous finite element models of prosthetic tibial components have overestimated the structural contribution of the metaphyseal cortical shell by a factor of approximately 6. A standard size tray, in contrast to a tray that extends to the cortical shell, does not significantly alter the axial load distribution but could result in bone resorption beyond the tray periphery. An important consequence of the component peg locations is that they direct the compressive stresses into dense regions of trabeculae that run from the subchondral articular surface to the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction. The use of a modified von Mises failure criterion suggests that at excessive load levels the most likely location of material failure is at the bone cement-trabecular bone interface immediately distal to the fixation posts. Due to its added rigidity, injection of cement beyond the fixation posts results in slightly increased stresses in this region, but these stress increases are compensated for by an increased strength of the cement-bone composite.