[Possibilities and limits of modern polyethylenes. With respect to the application profile].
BACKGROUND
Polyethylene is still one of the most important materials in the field of hip and knee arthroplasty. The clinical results of the last decades have helped to further develop polyethylene into a high-tech material. Progress in the development of new materials must be compared with the tried and tested ones to provide optimal and most individual patient care.


OBJECTIVE
This article gives an overview of the history and current application profile of the material ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in hip and knee arthroplasty.


METHODS
With the aid of the current literature, new developments in the field of the material UHMWPE, also with respect to the biological activity of wear, the particular biomechanics of the knee joint as well as alternative hard-hard bearing surfaces in the hip, are represented in terms of implant safety.


RESULTS
The problems concerning polyethylene are now well recognized. The disadvantages of the material UHMWPE could be consistently reduced based on material research so that modern polyethylenes have gradually been shown in clinical trials that they can be reliably used.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite this the potential for improvement has still not yet been fully exploited. Any further development must be extensively tested both biomechanically and biologically before the material can be used in vivo. Long-term results are still necessary before a material can be accepted as being clinically safe.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Campus Großhadern, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland, sandra.utzschneider@med.uni-muenchen.de.
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Utzschneider
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Paulus
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Schröder
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Jansson
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008422:Materials Testing; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020959:Polyethylene