125th Anniversary Scholarship for Black British Researchers - Designing Total Knee Replacement Implants for Patients of Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds

The human knee joint is often affected by arthritis and in many cases surgical intervention is necessary to perform a total knee replacement. This procedure involves removing bone from the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) and inserting a total knee replacement implant. A metal (cobalt chrome molybdenum alloy) component is attached to the femur, while another metal (titanium alloy) component is inserted into the tibia. A polymer (ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene) part is then fixed to the top of the tibial metal component. As the knee moves, the metal femoral component articulates against the polymer part.

Total knee replacement implants have typically been designed based on Caucasian knee anatomy. However, there is often a mismatch between these implants and the knees of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. For instance, black patients have been found to have a significant difference in tibial aspect ratio as compared to the Caucasian tibia, with systematic reviews suggesting worse outcomes following knee replacement.

This project will develop a scalable model of the knee to account for different ethnicities. Knee implant models will then be integrated into this scalable knee model to guide improvements in implant design. Finally, new implant designs will be proposed for patients from different ethnic backgrounds.

An initial model knee will be created from a scan of a knee joint and this model will serve as a template to produce the bony anatomy of knees for patients from various ethnic backgrounds, as well as gender. Several parameters (shapes and dimensions) from the initial model will be identified to create a generic, scalable knee model. By adjusting these parameters, it will be possible to generate knee models tailored to patients from different ethnic backgrounds. These parameters will be based on published literature.

The created model knees will be imported to Computer-Aided Design software and models of currently available knee replacement implants will then be fitted to these model knees to assess fit and motion. These models will then inform the design of new knee implants for patients from different ethnic backgrounds. Finite Element Analysis will be used to investigate the stresses within the implants and at the interface between the implant and the bone.

To validate the computational models, physical models of the knee joint and knee replacement implants will be produced using the 3D printing.

The research in this project is significant because approximately 3.6 million knee replacement procedures were performed globally in 2023. This number is expected to rise considerably over the next decade due to an aging population. Consequently, there will be an increased need for total knee replacements among patients across all ethnic backgrounds.

You can find more information via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

The University of Birmingham is proud to celebrate its remarkable 125-year journey and announce the launch of a groundbreaking scholarship initiative designed to empower and support Black British researchers in their pursuit of doctoral education.

These newly established 3.5-year scholarships aim to address underrepresentation and create opportunities for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to excel in academia. You can find out more here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/funding/black-british-researchers-scholarship

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