title: Fracture of highly cross-linked all-polyethylene patella after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Recent advances in polyethylene fabrication have led to the introduction of highly cross-linked polyethylene tibial and patellar components for use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with the goal of reducing wear-related osteolysis. However, some reports suggest decreased mechanical strength as a result of the additional thermal and sterilization treatments in the manufacturing of implants. Complications related to the patella are among the most common causes of failure in TKA, but patellar component fracture is rare. The authors report a case of a highly cross-linked all-polyethylene patellar component that failed as a result of fracture in vivo in a patient 3 years after TKA.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors: Dustin S
authors: DS
authors: Hambright
authors: Tyler Steven
authors: TS
authors: Watters
authors: Adam M
authors: AM
authors: Kaufman
authors: Paul F
authors: PF
authors: Lachiewicz
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Bolognesi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D020959:Polyethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D011475:Prosthesis Failure
chemical_list: D020959:Polyethylene