title: Surface micro-analyses of long-term worn retrieved "Osteal" alumina ceramic total hip replacement.
abstract: We analyzed wear pattern of long-term retrieved alumina-alumina hip prostheses from Osteal, which were implanted for 15-19 years. A comparison was carried out with our previous study of 17-year Biolox alumina-on-alumina hip prostheses, (Shishido et al., J Biomed Mater Res B 2003;67:638-647) and all-alumina total hip replacement run under microseparation simulator tests. Of particular interest was the occurrence of stripe wear in these first generation alumina ceramic bearings. Two balls of Osteal revealed only one stripe wear as did the respective liners on their rim areas. In these latter balls, the stripes were shallower than those previously observed in Biolox implants. A microscopic analysis of the bearing surface was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microprobe spectroscopy. On average, the Osteal retrievals had one grade lower wear than Biolox retrievals. Fluorescence microprobe maps showed that Biolox ball surfaces had higher compressive stress than the Osteal likely due to severe impingement and microseparation promoted by the bulky implant design.
authors: Orthopaedic Research Center and Peterson Tribology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, California, USA. tateiwa@xf7.so-net.ne.jp
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Tateiwa
authors: Ian C
authors: IC
authors: Clarke
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Pezzotti
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Sedel
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Kumakura
authors: Takaaki
authors: T
authors: Shishido
authors: Kengo
authors: K
authors: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D000537:Aluminum Oxide