Modeling & Predicting Fatigue Life for Silicone (H-Elastic) Pip Finger Implant Using Abaqus & Fe-Safe

Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint replacements have been performed for many decades with silicone implants with substantial acceptable to good outcomes. The PIP joint links the first and second phalanges of the finger. The aim of the study is to to improve the functional range of finger motion among individuals with posttraumatic degenerative changes in PIP joints. In this study an hyperelastic material model based approach is used to model the behaviors of PIP implant with different degree of flexion and extension. As these type of implant are mainly designed for flexion case, the range of flexion motion is then analyzed furthering Fe –safe for predicting fatigue strength. The Ogden hyperelastic material model based on three coefficients is used both is Abaqus and Fe-safe. Results shows that fatigue life is directly affected by range of motion with Fatigue life ranging from few thousand cycles for high degree of flexion to millions for small degree of flexion mainly 10 and 20 degree.