title: Fluid absorption study in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sterilized and unsterilized acetabular cups.
abstract: The weight gain due to fluid absorption was measured in gamma-sterilized, ethylene oxide (ETO) gas-sterilized, and unsterilized ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene acetabular cups. After about 2 months the total average fluid absorption gain of the polyethylene cups was: 1.76 +/- 0.45 mg (average +/- standard deviation) for the unsterilized polyethylene cups, 2.81 +/- 0.95 mg for the gamma-sterilized polyethylene cups and 1.51 +/- 0.34 for the ETO gas-sterilized polyethylene cups. There was little difference in fluid absorption between the sterilized and unsterilized specimens. In particular, the gamma-sterilized acetabular cups absorbed more than the ETO gas-sterilized and the unsterilized cups. However, the weight gain was higher in serum compared with that in water.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Tecnologia Medica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Affatato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vandelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bordini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toni
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D020959:Polyethylene; D005027:Ethylene Oxide