title: Oxidation and other property changes of a remelted highly crosslinked UHMWPE in retrieved tibial bearings.
abstract: This study examined retrieved UHMWPE tibial bearings made from a remelted highly crosslinked (HXL) UHMWPE to determine whether the material is chemically stable in vivo. Retrieved tibial components were measured for changes in ketone oxidation and crosslink density. Oxidation increased with in vivo duration, and a significant decrease in crosslink density with increased mean ketone oxidation index was observed. These results suggest that in vivo oxidation is causing material degradation. Furthermore, a subsurface whitened damage region was found below the articular surface of one bearing, indicating the possibility of a clinically relevant decrease in mechanical properties of this component. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 39-45, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8150-0346
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Reinitz
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: Barbara H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Currier
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: Rayna A C
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Van Citters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
keywords: FTIR; arthroplasty; oxidation; polyethylene (UHMWPE)