Surface oxidized zirconium total hip arthroplasty head damage due to closed reduction effects on polyethylene wear.
Recent case studies of surface oxidized zirconium THA heads removed after attempted, closed reduction have shown significant surface damage that has been suggested as potentially deleterious to polyethylene wear. We obtained 4 clinically retrieved specimens, produced well-characterized surface damage on additional heads, and tested them on a hip simulator. After 1 million cycles, the amount of polyethylene wear was related to the extent of surface damage, the most damaged clinical specimen showing more than 50 times more wear than a new head. Although all heads after failed attempted closed reduction(s) should be replaced, surface oxidized zirconium heads are of particular concern; those patients with a successful, simple closed reduction should be monitored for excessive wear.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York, USA.
William L
WL
Jaffe
Eric J
EJ
Strauss
M
M
Cardinale
Lizeth
L
Herrera
Fred J
FJ
Kummer
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020878:Device Removal; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D020959:Polyethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015040:Zirconium
D020959:Polyethylene; D015040:Zirconium