title: In-vitro characteristics of cemented titanium femoral stems with a smooth surface finish.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA), a polished tapered femoral stem with a design based on the taper-slip concept enables extremely reliable and durable fixation. In contrast, cemented femoral stems made from titanium alloys are not favored because of reports describing insufficient clinical outcomes. However, we have reported excellent clinical and radiological outcomes for cemented titanium stems made using the composite-beam concept. This study examines the characteristics of cemented titanium femoral stems with a smooth surface.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bonding strength between titanium alloys with different surface finishes and bone cement was evaluated by use of push-out and detachment tests. Torsional stability tests were performed to evaluate the initiation and propagation of disruption of the fixation of cemented stems at the cement-implant interface. The wear resistance was investigated by use of wear-friction tests performed using a multidirectional pin-on-disc machine. The bone strain loaded on to the femoral cortex was measured by use of an implanted Sawbone and analyzed by use of the finite element method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The push-out and detachment tests revealed increasing cement adhesion strength with increasing degree of roughness of the metal surface. The torsional stability tests indicated that a load >1,000 N led to progressive debonding between the cement and the implant with a smooth surface finish. Interestingly, wear-friction tests revealed the wear rate for polished titanium surfaces was clearly higher than for smooth surfaces. In addition, the greater elasticity of titanium stems compared with cobalt-chromium stems transmitted the external load to the proximal side of the femur more effectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The smooth surface finish of the stems is an important factor for the satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes of cemented titanium femoral stems. The greater elasticity of a titanium stem effectively transmits the external load to the medial side of the femur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. hakiyama@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaneuji
authors.forename: Tadami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D001843:Bone Cements; D005269:Femur; D006244:Hardness; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D014025:Titanium