title: Unacceptable biodegradation of polyethylene in vivo.
abstract: The chemical characterization of 19 retrieved ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene tibial plateaux, six new ones and one raw bar was performed by means of infrared spectroscopy. The surface and bulk oxidation and biodegradation indexes were calculated. The raw bar has a measurable oxidation, which increases on the bulk and on the surfaces of the new plateaux. In the retrieved plateaux, the average oxidation index increases further both on the bulk and on the surfaces; the worse values were present on the worn area. Similar results were found for the biodegradation index. The data show that the biotic in vivo degradation is promoted by the oxidation present on the new plateaux and that it occurs through a different mechanism, abiotic thermal-, photo-, gamma-radiation oxidation, evaluated by the oxidation index.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Ortopedica, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brach del Prever
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crova
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dallera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallinaro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes