Effects of Glenoid Prosthesis Design Variables on Glenoid Bone Remodeling: A Finite Element Based Simulation and Validation Study

Finite element (FE) analysis has been used to improve glenoid prosthesis design. One of the major complications of shoulder arthroplasty has been glenoid prosthesis loosening. Design improvements are needed to increase their longevity [1]. Current FE analyses have used static or non-linear solutions to compare design variations with respect to stresses in the glenoid bone and prosthesis [2, 3]. Previous numerical models have not incorporated Wolff’s Law of adaptive bone remodeling to simulate normal glenoid bone remodeling or remodeling in response to implanted glenoid prostheses. Of the numerous remodeling simulation theories available in the literature, this study controlled internal structure remodeling using bone strain-energy. In order to design longer lasting glenoid prosthesis bone remodeling behavior due to various prosthesis fixation geometries and materials needs to be considered.