title: Bearing surfaces in total hip replacements: state of the art and future developments.
abstract: Because the UHMWPE components fabricated by the historic process of gamma-sterilization in air are no longer marketed, a surgeon who wishes to continue performing joint replacement surgery must choose among the new polyethylenes, or he or she may choose a modern metal-metal or ceramic-ceramic bearing, each of which has its potential advantages and disadvantages (Table 4). Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the surgeon to assess the risk-benefit ratios of each of the new bearing combinations and make an informed and wise choice among them.
authors.affiliation: J. Vernon Luck Orthopaedic Research Center, Orthopaedic Hospital, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: McKellop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys; D011095:Polyethylenes