Hip joint degeneration due to cam impingement: a finite element analysis

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of cam impingement, a biomechanical risk factor, on hip joint degeneration and ultimately coxarthrosis. 3D finite element solid models of a healthy and a pathologic hip were developed based on clinical reports. The biphasic characteristics of cartilaginous tissues were considered to identify localised solid matrix overloading during normal walking and sitting down (SD). Localised femoral intrusion at the anterior-superior pelvic horn was revealed in the pathologic hip during SD, where the radial and meridional solid stresses in the acetabular cartilage and circumferential solid stresses within the acetabular labrum increased by 3.7, 1.5 and 2.7 times, respectively. The increased solid-on-solid stresses, reduction in fluid-load support and associated higher friction during articulation may result in joint wear and other degenerative changes in the hip.

Keywords::

• hip joint
• cartilage degeneration
• biphasic model
• contact pressure
• finite element
• impingement

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge access to the Sciama High Performance Computer (HPC) Cluster, which was supported by the ICG, SEPNet and the University of Portsmouth and support by Sciama technician Gary Burton.

Conflict of interest disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.