Effects of RF ‐Induced Heating of Orthopedic Implants Across Stages of Bone Fracture Healing and Anatomical Variability: In Silico Assessment Using Computational Human Models at 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI

PURPOSE: This study presents an in-silico assessment of RF-induced heating of orthopedic implants during various stages of bone fracture healing, namely surgery, scar, and healed phases, under 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI. METHODS: Computational human models Duke, Ella, and Fats were used to develop the stages of bone fracture healing. These models reflect clinically relevant conditions and also include assessment of the surgery model with the presence of tissue adhesive and its leakage. Two types of orthopedic implants are analyzed: (a) a tibial nail system embedded within bone, and (b) a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) implant located partially in bone and muscle. RESULTS: Results demonstrate variations in RF-induced heating across stages of bone fracture healing and anatomical models, indicating that localized tissue properties, location of the implantation as well as the presence of tissue adhesive significantly influence RF-induced heating. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the importance of (a) integrating clinically relevant in silico models to evaluate the safety of patients undergoing MRI scans which are not included in the current testing standards for passive implantable medical devices, and (b) accurate labeling of orthopedic implants for testing in an MRI environment.