A two dimensional finite element model is employed for the study of the effect of changing the bone cement thickness in total hip prostheses.
The thickness of cement taken as variable are 1,2,3,4 and 5mm, and three load directions of 0, 22.5 and 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the femur are studied. A reasonably stiff support can be achieved when the thickness of cement layer between bone and stem is minimized. But fragmentation of cement happens in a thin layer of cement.
The finite element stress analysis shows that maximum tensile stress in stem is increased as the layer of cement thicken, while the stress in cement is decreased. From the comparison of stress distributions with various cement thickness, a thickness of cement layer between 3 and 4 mm is recommended.