Ex vivo wear of conventional and cross-linked polyethylene acetabular liners.
Explanted highly cross-linked polyethylene acetabular liners show third-body scratching. It was suggested that this surface damage could increase the wear rate of highly cross-linked polyethylene. We investigated the wear behavior of surgically explanted highly cross-linked and conventional acetabular liners using a hip simulator. Highly cross-linked explants showed no weight loss. The scratches and original machine marks of the highly cross-linked liners present at explantation remained during testing; the wear rates of these liners were 1.1 +/- 2.3 mg/million cycles, representing weight gain. In contrast, conventional liners showed wear rates of -12.9 +/- 1.4 mg/million cycles, representing weight loss. Wear was associated with rapid surface polishing and scratch elimination. After testing, the liners were melted to trigger shape memory and recover plastic deformation-induced surface changes. Highly cross-linked liners showed substantial recovery of original machining marks after melting, indicating that the scratches were a result of plastic deformation and not wear. None of the conventional polyethylenes showed any recovery after melting. The wear resistance of the highly cross-linked polyethylene studied was not compromised by surface changes that occurred during the first year of in vivo service.
Muratoglu
Orhun K
OK
Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. orhun@alum.mit.edu
Wannomae
Keith
K
Christensen
Steven
S
Rubash
Harry E
HE
Harris
William H
WH
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000601:surgery*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011095:Polyethylenes