Differentiation between mechanically loose and fixed press-fit implants using quantitative acoustics and load self-referencing: A phantom study on shoulder prostheses in polyurethane foam

This study proposes to use cross-interface quantitative acoustics (ci-qA) and load self-referencing (LSR) to assess implant stability in a radiation-free, inexpensive, rapid, and quantitative manner. Eight bone analog specimens, made from polyurethane foam, were implanted with a cementless stemless shoulder implant—first in a fixed and later in a loose configuration—and measured using ci-qA under two load conditions. The loose implants exhibited higher micromotion and lower pull-out strength than their stable counterparts, with all values falling within the range of reported reference values. All acoustic characteristics differentiated between loose and fixed implants (maximum area-under-curve AUC = 1.0 for mean total signal energy, AUC = 1.0 for mean total signal energy ratio, AUC = 0.8 for harmonic ratio, and AUC = 0.92 for load self-referencing coefficient). While these results on bone substitute material will need to be confirmed on real bone specimen, ci-qA could ultimately facilitate the assessment of primary stability during implantation surgery and avoid unnecessary revision through quantitative evaluation of secondary stability during follow-up.