Knee model of hydrodynamic lubrication during the gait cycle and the influence of prosthetic joint conformity

The present model suggested the limited modifying effect of hydrodynamic lubrication in total knee replacement systems. However, its role during the early stance phase, coupled with high conformity, helps significantly to decrease compressive stresses on the polyethylene, fostering the beneficial effect of high conformity in a mixed lubrication regime. This beneficial effect may also be of great interest in total knee replacement systems based on materials with less deformation.