STRESSES IN THE STERNUM: AN EXAMPLE OF MODELLING THE EFFECTS OF IMPLANTS

ON HARD TISSUE

David W.L. Hukins

University of Birmingham

REPAIRING THE STERNUM

TENSION IN A WIRE

Force

F = rLP

Pressure P < 40 kPa

L = 0.25 m

r = 0.15 m

F = rLP/6 = 250 N

F

r

L

REDUCING CONTACT STRESS

FE modelling of stresses in bone:

• Dimensions of sternum

• Properties of cortical and cacellous bone

• Stochastic FE modelling

STRESSES IN BONE

R S Jutley, M A Watson, D E T Shepherd & D W L Hukins Finite element analysis of stress around a sternum crew used to prevent sternal dehiscence

after heart surgery Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 216, 315-321 (2002).