Wear of a highly cross-linked polyethylene liner associated with metallic deposition on a ceramic femoral head.
A 68-year-old patient underwent revision surgery for recurrent dislocation of a ceramic-on-polyethylene uncemented hip arthroplasty implanted 6 months previously. The aluminum oxide femoral head was found to have titanium deposition measuring 5 by 10 mm in an area articulating with the highly cross-linked polyethylene liner. The liner was observed to possess severe scratching produced by articulation with the titanium deposited on the ceramic head. Despite improved scratch resistance of ceramic-bearing surfaces, irregularities introduced by metallic deposition after recurrent dislocation can damage a highly cross-linked polyethylene liner.
Della Valle
Alejandro González
AG
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Doty
Stephen
S
Gradl
Guntmar
G
Labissiere
Anthony
A
Nestor
Bryan J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
D020959:Polyethylene; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide