title: Quantitative comparison of wear debris from UHMWPE that has and has not been sterilised by gamma irradiation.
abstract: Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) components for total joint replacement generate wear particles which cause adverse biological tissue reactions leading to osteolysis and loosening. Sterilisation of UHMWPE components by gamma irradiation in air causes chain scissions which initiate a long-term oxidative process that degrades the chemical and mechanical properties of the polyethylene. Using a tri-pin-on-disc tribometer we studied the effect of ageing for ten years after gamma irradiation in air on the volumetric wear, particle size distribution and the number of particles produced by UHMWPE when sliding against a stainless-steel counterface. The aged and irradiated material produced six times more volumetric wear and 34 times more wear particles per unit load per unit sliding distance than non-sterilised UHMWPE. Our findings indicate that oxidative degradation of polyethylene after gamma irradiation in air with ageing produces more wear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, England, UK.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Besong
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tipper
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wroblewski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D017276:Friction; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008153:Lubrication; D008422:Materials Testing; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; D013193:Stainless Steel