The 2012 John Charnley Award: Clinical multicenter studies of the wear performance of highly crosslinked remelted polyethylene in THA.
BACKGROUND
Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) in THA was developed to reduce particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis. A series of clinical studies were initiated to determine the clinical efficacy as judged by patient-reported scores, radiographic osteolysis, and wear analysis of one form of HXLPE.


OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this series of studies were to (1) determine the wear rates of one form of HXLPE; (2) report long-term (7-10 years) patient-reported outcome measures; (3) assess the effect of femoral head size on wear; and (4) determine the incidence of periprosthetic osteolysis.


METHODS
A single-center and two multicenter studies were conducted on 768 primary patients (head size 26-36 mm) undergoing THA at eight medical centers. Patient-reported outcome scores, radiographic grading for osteolysis, and radiographic wear evaluation were performed.


RESULTS
Serial plain radiographs showed no periprosthetic osteolysis in the three studies. The average femoral head penetration rates did not correlate with time in vivo for patients with standard femoral head sizes. Although there was an indication of higher wear in patients with 36-mm diameter femoral heads, it was below the threshold for producing osteolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of this HXLPE substantially improved the prognosis of patients after THA up to 13 years as judged by clinical scores, incidence of osteolysis, and polyethylene wear measurements.


METHODS
Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guideline for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Harris Orthopaedic Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, GRJ 1126, Boston, MA 02114, USA. cbragdon@partners.org
Charles R
CR
Bragdon
Michael
M
Doerner
John
J
Martell
Bryan
B
Jarrett
Henrik
H
Palm
Henrik
H
Malchau
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography
D011095:Polyethylenes