title: Material Science in Cervical Total Disc Replacement.
abstract: Current cervical total disc replacement (TDR) designs incorporate a variety of different biomaterials including polyethylene, stainless steel, titanium (Ti), and cobalt-chrome (CoCr). These materials are most important in their utilization as bearing surfaces which allow for articular motion at the disc space. Long-term biological effects of implanted materials include wear debris, host inflammatory immune reactions, and osteolysis resulting in implant failure. We review here the most common materials used in cervical TDR prosthetic devices, examine their bearing surfaces, describe the construction of the seven current cervical TDR devices that are approved for use in the United States, and discuss known adverse biological effects associated with long-term implantation of these materials. It is important to appreciate and understand the variety of biomaterials available in the design and construction of these prosthetics and the considerations which guide their implementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Vivek A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuchman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002857:Chromium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003035:Cobalt / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059145:Total Disc Replacement / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002857:Chromium; D013193:Stainless Steel; D003035:Cobalt; D020959:Polyethylene; D014025:Titanium