Biomechanical study of the resurfacing hip arthroplasty: finite element analysis of the femoral component.

Finite element analysis was performed using 3-dimensional models to examine the biomechanical characteristics of the femoral component in resurfacing hip arthroplasty. Stress concentration was observed in the cortical bone adjacent to the rim of the prosthesis. Stress shielding was observed in the anterosuperior regions on the cancellous bone cross-sections near the cup rim. These biomechanical characteristics may lead to complications such as femoral neck fractures in patients with osteopenic bone and long-term loosening.