title: Osteolysis: new polymers and new solutions.
abstract: The prevention of osteolysis is a complex problem with multiple variables. Polyethylene represents one half of the bearing surface. Femoral head size, component congruency, and bearing material play a dominant role in the generation of particulate debris. In addition to all of these variables, there is a significant individual variation of biological response to a given particulate load. The industry-wide effort to improve the overall quality of manufactured polyethylene products and the introduction of Hylamer as a polyethylene bearing surface represent a significant step forward in reducing the problems of osteolysis in the next generation of implant patients.
authors.affiliation: Texas Hip and Knee Center, Ft Worth 76104-2502.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology*; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes