title: Radiographic and retrieval wear analyses of the first generation highly cross-linked polyethylene cup against a ceramic femoral head.
abstract: In this study, the in vivo wear of highly cross-linked polyethylene (CLPE) cups against alumina ceramic femoral heads was evaluated by radiographic and retrieval analysis. The radiographic wear of six ethylene oxide gas-sterilized (i.e., non-cross-linked) conventional polyethylene (PE) cups with the mean follow-up of 20.9 years and 60 CLPE cups with the mean follow-up of 7.4 years was measured. The retrieved 16 PE cups with clinical use for mean 21.5 years and 10 CLPE cups with clinical use for mean 2.9 years was evaluated as a retrieval analysis. In the radiographic analysis, the linear wear of CLPE cups was significantly lower (99% reduction) compared to conventional polyethylene cups. The results of retrieval analyses for both cups were similar to those of radiographic analyses. Even when third-body wear occurred during clinical use, no surface damage was observed on the surface of ceramic femoral heads. The surface is not sensitive to third-body wear, and hence, the ceramic femoral head has a great advantage in terms of the wear of CLPE under third-body wear conditions. In conclusion, CLPE cups used with alumina ceramic femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty should have favorable wear resistance in several in vivo situations.
authors.affiliation: H. Oonishi Memorial Joint Replacement Institute, Tominaga Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oonishi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyomoto
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oonishi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods; D002516:Ceramics; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000473:pathology*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020959:Polyethylene; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide
keywords: alumina ceramics; cross-linked polyethylene; radiographic analysis; retrieval analysis; wear