Design and Simulation of a Femoral Component Peg in Total Knee Replacement

Aseptic loosening of the femoral component is one cause of failure in total knee replacement (TKR). Inadequate bone stock in the distal femur after TKR, due to the stress shielding, was often found in revision of the femoral component. The pegs in the femoral component are used as an aid to the correct placement of the component but they also help to transfer the load to the diaphyseal part of the bone and improve stability. This paper investigates the influence of femoral component peg design on stress distribution and bone remodelling in the distal femur after TKR. Eight different peg designs were investigated and reported in this paper. The bone remodelling parameters in the distal femur are presented, compared and analysed. Results show that a slender peg is advantageous in TKR.