Oxidized zirconium femoral components reduce polyethylene wear in a knee wear simulator.
Polyethylene wear remains a major problem that can jeopardize the long-term durability of prostheses used in total knee arthroplasty. Oxidized zirconium is a material that combines the strength of a metal with the wear properties of a ceramic. This study evaluated the wear rates of polyethylene inserts against oxidized zirconium femoral components. Three oxidized zirconium femoral components and three Co-Cr femoral components of identical geometry used in total knee arthroplasty were articulated against standard tibial components with modular tibial inserts made of noncross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Gravimetric and volumetric polyethylene wear rates were calculated after 5 million gait cycles on an AMTI knee wear simulator. Oxidized zirconium reduced polyethylene wear by 42% compared with Co-Cr alloy. This study shows that oxidized zirconium can reduce polyethylene wear substantially when used for fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty.
Ezzet
Kace A
KA
Scripps Clinic, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. kezzet@scrippsclinic.com
Hermida
Juan C
JC
Colwell
Clifford W
CW
D'Lima
Darryl D
DD
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003035:Cobalt; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D016014:Linear Models; D008422:Materials Testing; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013499:Surface Properties; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; D003035:Cobalt; D020959:Polyethylene; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide