Molecular anatomy of freeze-fractured ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene as determined by low-voltage scanning electron microscopy.
Morphological similarities between virgin ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) powder and debris retrieved from failed UHMWPE total joint implants motivated this study's objective: to establish the internal microstructural features of consolidated UHMWPE. Cylindrical specimens were cored from a gamma-irradiation-sterilized tibial component (extruded from GUR 415 resin), and then these specimens were freeze-fractured at high strain rates. Low-voltage scanning electron microscopy was used to examine these surfaces. Two types of areas were observed. The first were uniform, homogeneous, and continuous with microridge structures (45-70 nm wide) and hillocks (0.1-0.3 microns in diameter). The second was nonhomogeneous and discontinuous with febrils (10-200 nm long), microridges, fenestra as small as 20 nm, and large crater-like structures (6-12 microns in diameter). Many of the submicronsized structures observed were similar to the structures observed in virgin powder, as well as those observed by others from wear debris retrieval studies. These data support the hypotheses that wear debris originates, in part, from structures originally present in the powder resin, and that these structures retain their identity throughout consolidation, machining, and in vivo wear, and are released into periprosthetic tissues as wear debris.
Jacob
R J
RJ
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40507, USA.
Pienkowski
D
D
Hoglin
D P
DP
Saum
K A
KA
Kaufer
H
H
Nicholls
P J
PJ
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D005614:Freeze Fracturing / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013499:Surface Properties
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes