Constitutive modelling and experimental studies on bone graft

A successful technique for revision hip replacement (after one or more failures) uses morsellised (ground up) human allograft bone which is compacted into bone defects to replace the lost bone. Our research has focused on understanding the mechanical behaviour of bone graft through direct shear and confined compression experiments. A comprehensive constitutive model for morsellised cortico-cancellous bone has been developed permitting realistic material modelling of graft in finite element analyses. The studies also provide specific practical suggestions to the surgeons on graft preparation and the impaction technique.