Effect of ion implantation on the tribology of metal-on-metal hip prostheses.
Nitrogen ion implantation (which considerably hardens the surface of the bearing) may represent one possible method of reducing the wear of metal-on-metal (MOM) hip bearings. Currently there are no ion-implanted MOM bearings used clinically. Therefore a physiological hip simulator test was undertaken using standard test conditions, and the results compared to previous studies using the same methods. N2-ion implantation of high carbon cast Co-Cr-Mo-on-Co-Cr-Mo hip prostheses increased wear by 2-fold during the aggressive running-in phase compared to untreated bearing surfaces, plus showing no wear reductions during steady-state conditions. Although 2 specimens were considered in the current study, it would appear that ion implantation has no clinical benefit for MOM.
Bowsher
John G
JG
IRC in Biomedical Materials and Department of Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
Hussain
Azad
A
Williams
Paul
P
Nevelos
Jim
J
Shelton
Julia C
JC
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D007477:Ions; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting
D007477:Ions; D009584:Nitrogen