Reduction of Osteolysis with Use of Marathon Cross-Linked Polyethylene: A Concise Follow-up, at a Minimum of Five Years, of a Previous Report

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2008-07, Vol.90 (7), p.1487-1491
• Main Authors: Bitsch, Rudi G, Loidolt, Travis, Heisel, Christian, Ball, Scott, Schmalzried, Thomas P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Biocompatible Materials; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Joint Prosthesis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Osteolysis - prevention & control; Polyethylene; Prosthesis Failure; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
• ISSN: 0021-9355; 1535-1386
• DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.F.00991

AbstractWe previously reported wear data at a minimum of two years following thirty-four total hip replacements with a Marathon cross-linked polyethylene liner and twenty-four replacements with a conventional (gamma-sterilized-in-air) Enduron polyethylene liner. In this current study, with sequential five-year radiographs, wear rates were determined with use of linear regression analysis. The Marathon polyethylene had average wear rates of 15.4 mm/yr and 8.0 mm/million cycles. The Enduron polyethylene had average wear rates of 55.5 mm/yr and 29.9 mm/million cycles. The adjusted volumetric wear rate of the Marathon polyethylene was 73% lower than that of the Enduron polyethylene (p = 0.001). Osteolysis developed in eight of the twenty-four hips with an Enduron liner but was not apparent in any hip with a Marathon liner.Level of EvidenceTherapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.