Author(s)

R. Sakai¹, K. Uchiyama², N. Takahira², M. Kakeshita³, Y. Otsu³, K. Yoshida¹, M. Ujihira¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan.
²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
³Mark Electronics Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan.

In total hip arthroplasty, judgment of the appropriateness of stem hammering is dependent on the experience and feelings of the surgeon and no objective evaluation method has been established. In this study, a frequency analysis of the hammering sounds in total hip arthroplasty was performed to investigate objective judgment criteria capable of preventing problems during surgery. Stem hammering was applied following the surgeon’s feelings as usual in an operating room. A directional microphone was placed at a distance about 2 m from the surgical field and the peak frequency reaching the maximum amplitude was determined by Fourier analysis. It was clarified that the same peak frequency repeats when appropriate fixation is acquired during surgery, suggesting that intraoperative fracture and postoperative loosening can be prevented by stopping hammering at the time the peak frequency converged. Investigation of changes in the hammering sound frequency may serve as objective judgment criteria capable of preventing problems during surgery.

Hip Replacement, Total Hip Arthroplasty, Hammering Sound, Frequency Analysis, Intraoperative Fracture, Loosening

Sakai, R. , Uchiyama, K. , Takahira, N. , Kakeshita, M. , Otsu, Y. , Yoshida, K. and Ujihira, M. (2020) Usefulness of Hammering Sound Frequency Analysis as an Evaluation Method for the Prevention of Trouble during Hip Replacement. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 13, 74-80. doi: 10.4236/jbise.2020.135007.