Improved Hip Replacement Design

Dual Mobility Femur Prosthetic to Reduce Post-Operative Hip Dislocation

Application

A new design of a modular hip implant with a rotational proximal junction in the femoral stem to minimize post-operative hip dislocation.

Benefits

Rotating femoral component alleviates torsional strain on implant, a primary cause of implant impingement and failure.

Market Summary

Peri-prosthetic hip dislocation is the number one cause for revision total hip arthroplasty, which is associated with high costs and long recovery periods. Though there have been several innovations to prevent post-operative hip dislocations, there is still an unmet need for a technology to solve the dislocation problem. The rate of dislocation in first-time hip replacement patients is as high as 10% each year. Research suggests clinical failure of the femoral part of a hip impact is primarily caused by contortion applied to the prosthesis. Impingement is the primary mode for dislocation in these hip replacements. An implant designed to lower the torsional force on the prosthesis should reduce clinical failure rates.

Technical Summary

Emory researchers have designed a new dual mobility femur, where the proximal femur component can rotate. This capacity for rotation prevents impingement, the most prevalent cause of dislocation. Rotation is possible due to a new junction between the stem shaft and the proximal body of the femoral component. The key, significant difference between the proposed invention and current standard is the rotational proximal junction.