Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has received the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) worth RM350,000 from a total of RM3.2 million in 2016 by Associate Professor Ts. Ir. Dr. Kumaran Kadirgama and Associate Professor Ts. Ir. Dr. Wan Sharuzi Wan Harun.
The grant is a collaboration with Qatar University, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Rutgers University. The project covers the hip replacement procedure.
Hip joint failure is a common problem due to degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Obesity is one of the factors that leads to osteoarthritis. At times, hip failure is due to accidents either related to sports or motor vehicles.
Approximately 1.6 million hip fractures occur worldwide each year; by 2050, this number could reach between 4.5 and 6.3 million. Fortunately, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an orthopedic procedure available to reduce pain and restore the functionality of the hip joints.
THA has been successfully implemented for the last 30 years. However, after more than 30 years of design and implementation, the femoral stem’s premature loosening still occurs due to the stress shielding of the periprosthetic femur. This causes some patients to undergo THA a second time, which can be an excruciating experience.
The project is a combination of engineering and engineering technology. Two main elements are needed in this project to design the femoral stems with additive manufacturing. One element is needed for theory, and another is the skill of additive manufacturing.
This is an excellent example of the importance of engineering technology. The combination of skill and theory is essential for current engineers. The journey of the succession of this project comprises good planning, management, and teamwork.