Parametric analysis of glenoid implant design and fixation type

Common post‐operative problems in shoulder arthroplasty such as glenoid loosening and joint instability may be reduced by improvements in glenoid design, shape, material choice, and fixation method. A framework for parametric analysis of different implant fixation configurations was developed in order to efficiently sift through potential glenoid component designs. We investigated the influence of design factors such as fixation type, component thickness, and peg position, number, diameter, and length in a multi‐factorial design investigation. The proposed method allowed for simultaneous comparison of the mechanical performance of 344 different parametric variations of 10 different reference geometries with either large central fixation features or small peripheral pegs, undergoing four different worst‐case scenario loading conditions, and averaging 64.7 s per model. The impact of design parameters were assessed for different factors responsible for post‐operative problems in shoulder arthroplasty, such as bone volume preservation, stresses in the implant, central displacement or fixation stability, and the worst performing geometries all relied on conventional central fixation. Of the remaining geometries, four peripheral fixation configurations produced von Mises stresses comfortably below the material's yield strength. We show that the developed method allows for simple, direct, rapid, and repeatable comparison of different design features, material choices, or fixation methods by analyzing how they influence the bone‐implant mechanical environment. The proposed method can provide valuable insight in implant design optimization by screening through multiple potential design modifications at an early design evaluation stage and highlighting the best performing combinations according to the failure mechanism to mitigate. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:775–784, 2017.