Scratching vulnerability of conventional vs highly cross-linked polyethylene liners because of large embedded third-body particles

J Arthroplasty. 2012 May;27(5):742-9. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2011.10.002. Epub 2011 Nov 23.

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study was that acetabular liner vulnerability to scratching from femoral heads, roughened by third bodies embedded in the liner, is not significantly lower for highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXPE) than for conventional polyethylene (CPE). Six CPE and 6 HXPE acetabular liners were each reproducibly embedded with 5 cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) beads then run for 10,000 cycles in a joint simulator. By visual rank ordering, there was low association between liner scratch severity and polyethylene type. The CPE and HXPE liner scratches were not significantly different in scratch peak-valley height or width or in liner roughness in the vicinity of the embedded beads. This model indicated that high cross-linking of polyethylene does not offer appreciable protection against severe scratching induced by large embedded third-body particles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetabulum / surgery*
  • Equipment Failure Analysis*
  • Foreign Bodies / complications*
  • Hip Joint* / physiopathology
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing*
  • Particle Size
  • Polyethylene*
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Polyethylene