Journal article
Tibial Baseplate Microstructure Governs High Cycle Fatigue Fracture In Vivo
Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials, v 112(12), e35507
01 Dec 2024
PMID: 39570093
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Previous studies report rare occurrences of tibial baseplate fractures following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, at a microstructural scale, it remains unclear how fatigue models developed in vitro apply to fractures in vivo. In this study, we asked: (1) do any clinical factors differentiate fracture patients from a broader revision sample; and (2) in vivo, how does microstructure influence fatigue crack propagation? We identified three fractured tibial baseplates from an institutional review board exempt implant retrieval program. Then, for comparison, we collated clinical data from the same database for n = 2120 revision TKA patients with tibial trays. To identify mechanisms, we characterized fracture features using scanning electron and digital optical microscopy. Additionally, we performed cross sectional analysis using focused ion beam milling. The fracture cohort consisted of moderately to very active patients with increased implantation time (15.6 years) compared to the larger revision patient sample (5.1 years, p = 0.009). We did not find a significant difference in patient weight between the two groups (p = 0.98). Macroscopic fracture features aligned well with both previous retrieval analysis and in vitro baseplate fatigue tests. On a micron scale, we identified striations on each baseplate, demonstrating fatigue as the fracture mechanism. In vivo fatigue fracture processes depended on both the alloy (Ti-6Al-4V vs. CoCrMo) and the microstructure of the alloy formed during manufacturing. For Ti-6Al-4V, the presence of equiaxed or acicular microstructure influenced the fatigue crack propagation, the latter arising from large prior β grains and a Widmanstatten microstructure, degrading fatigue strength. CoCrMo alloy fatigue cracks propagated linearly, crystallographically influenced by planar slip. However, we did not document any features of overload or fast fracture, suggesting a high cycle, low stress fatigue regime. Ultimately, the crack profiles we present here may provide insight into fatigue fractures of modern tibial baseplates.Previous studies report rare occurrences of tibial baseplate fractures following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, at a microstructural scale, it remains unclear how fatigue models developed in vitro apply to fractures in vivo. In this study, we asked: (1) do any clinical factors differentiate fracture patients from a broader revision sample; and (2) in vivo, how does microstructure influence fatigue crack propagation? We identified three fractured tibial baseplates from an institutional review board exempt implant retrieval program. Then, for comparison, we collated clinical data from the same database for n = 2120 revision TKA patients with tibial trays. To identify mechanisms, we characterized fracture features using scanning electron and digital optical microscopy. Additionally, we performed cross sectional analysis using focused ion beam milling. The fracture cohort consisted of moderately to very active patients with increased implantation time (15.6 years) compared to the larger revision patient sample (5.1 years, p = 0.009). We did not find a significant difference in patient weight between the two groups (p = 0.98). Macroscopic fracture features aligned well with both previous retrieval analysis and in vitro baseplate fatigue tests. On a micron scale, we identified striations on each baseplate, demonstrating fatigue as the fracture mechanism. In vivo fatigue fracture processes depended on both the alloy (Ti-6Al-4V vs. CoCrMo) and the microstructure of the alloy formed during manufacturing. For Ti-6Al-4V, the presence of equiaxed or acicular microstructure influenced the fatigue crack propagation, the latter arising from large prior β grains and a Widmanstatten microstructure, degrading fatigue strength. CoCrMo alloy fatigue cracks propagated linearly, crystallographically influenced by planar slip. However, we did not document any features of overload or fast fracture, suggesting a high cycle, low stress fatigue regime. Ultimately, the crack profiles we present here may provide insight into fatigue fractures of modern tibial baseplates.
Metrics
9 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Tibial Baseplate Microstructure Governs High Cycle Fatigue Fracture In Vivo
- Creators
- Michael A Kurtz - Drexel UniversityJeremy L Gilbert (Corresponding Author) - Clemson UniversityHannah Spece - Drexel UniversityGregg R Klein - Hackensack University Medical CenterHarold E Cates - Tennessee Orthopaedic ClinicsSteven M Kurtz - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials, v 112(12), e35507
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Program: NNCI-2025608, RRID: SCR_022684
We thank Jeffrey Hancock for his assistance with sectioning devices. At the University of Pennsylvania Singh Center for Nanotechnology (supported by the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Program under grant NNCI-2025608), we thank Jamie Ford, PhD, and Nicole Bohn for their SEM troubleshooting efforts. Craig L. Johnson, PhD, and Kate Vanderburgh, PhD, at the Drexel University Materials Characterization Core (MCC, RRID: SCR_022684) aided in experimental design and provided training with SEM and FIB-SEM.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001369965800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85210041016
- Other Identifier
- 991021963115304721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Biomedical
- Materials Science, Biomaterials