title: Number of polyethylene particles and osteolysis in total joint replacements. A quantitative study using a tissue-digestion method.
abstract: Our aim was to analyse the influence of the size, shape and number of particles on the pathogenesis of osteolysis. We obtained peri-implant tissues from 18 patients having revision surgery for aseptically loosened Freeman total knee replacements (10), Charnley total hip replacements (3) and Imperial College/London Hospital double-cup surface hip replacements (5). The size and shape of the polyethylene particles were characterised using SEM and their concentration was calculated. The results were analysed with reference to the presence of radiological osteolysis. The concentration of polyethylene particles in 6 areas with osteolysis was significantly higher than that in 12 areas without osteolysis. There were no significant differences between the size and shape of the particles in these two groups. We conclude that the most critical factor in the pathogenesis of osteolysis is the concentration of polyethylene particles accumulated in the tissue.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary and Westfield College, the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, England, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bonfield
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kadoya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamac
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Saffar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Revell
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology*; D010316:Particle Size; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000032:analysis*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes