title: The biological reaction to polyethylene wear debris can be related with oxidation of the UHMWPE cups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidised UHMWPE due to gamma irradiation in air has a greater susceptibility to wear than non-oxidised UHMWPE (ethylene oxide, EtO).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, the biological reaction of loose implants with oxidised and non-oxidised PE components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten loose PE cups sterilised by EtO (group 1) and 13 sterilised by gamma irradiation in air (group 2) were studied. PE wear and oxidation were related to biological reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1: PE cups had low wear score and no oxidation. In the oldest implants, a few PE particles and macrophages were observed in the interface membrane. Group 2: PE inserts had medium-to-high PE wear score and variable oxidation. In the interface membrane, the number and total area of PE particles were high and variable; giant cells were more numerous than macrophages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Junctional tissues around loose oxidised PE components contain more PE debris and giant cells than membranes around PE components that are not oxidised.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Traumatologia, Ortopedia e Medicina del Lavoro, Università degli Studi di Torino Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico, Torino.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brach del Prever
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bistolfi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bracco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Botto Micca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crova
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallinaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011474:Prosthesis Design
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene