The effect of the addition of hydroxyapatite graft substitutes upon the hoop strain and subsequent subsidence of a femoral model during impaction bone grafting

Impaction bone grafting using morcellised allograft can successfully restore bone stock in revision surgery. However, concerns exist regarding supply of bone and transmission of infection. Bone-graft extenders, such as tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA), are used to minimise the use of donor bone. However, concerns exist around a reported increased risk of femoral fracture during impaction bone grafting with a 1:1 mixture of TCP/HA and morcellised bone graft (MBG) during impaction grafting in human cadaveric femora. Using a sawbones model, it was evaluated whether there was increased femoral cortical strain with a HA:MBG mixture during impaction grafting compared to MBG impacted at the same and a greater force. Subsequently the subsidence behaviour of the different graft mixes was compared by using a loaded femoral stem in an endurance test. It was demonstrated that the femora with the MBG:HA graft had greater cortical hoop stresses but improved subsidence behaviour compared to a graft composed of pure MBG impacted at the same force.

► We examined the effect of impaction force and addition of hydroxyapatite in a hip model.
► Greater force decreases subsidence of a femoral hip stem but increases hoop strain.
► Addition of hydroxyapatite to bone graft decreases femoral implant subsidence.
► Addition of hydroxyapatite to bone graft increases hoop strain during impaction.
► Adding hydroxyapatite to bone graft might be better than increased impaction force.