Effect of sliding locus on subsurface crack formation in ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene knee component.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sliding locus on fatigue destruction of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in order to design a durable total knee arthroplasty (TKA) articulation. Two-dimensional sliding fatigue testing was performed under two simplified patterns of articulating interface sliding locus. Scanning acoustic tomography (SAT) was used for observation of subsurface cracks in UHMWPE specimens. A high rate of subsurface crack formation was observed when the movement was reciprocated on two different loci, in contrast with that on a single linear locus. This finding suggests that crack formation or propagation in UHMWPE components is accelerated not only by the compressive stress but also by complicated articulating movement locus.
Todo
S
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
Tomita
N
N
Kitakura
T
T
Yamano
Y
Y
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008422:Materials Testing; D009068:Movement; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene