Evaluation of wear in an all-polymer total knee replacement. Part 2: Clinical evaluation of wear in a polyethylene on polyacetal total knee

In an effort to improve the long-term result of total joint replacement arthroplasty, we have investigated the use of a polymer-on-polymer articular replacement arthroplasty. Because of their known biocompatibility and previous use in orthopedic surgery, polyethylene and polyacetal (copolymer, Hoech...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical materials 1993, Vol.14 (2), p.127-132
Main Authors: Bradley, Gary W., Freeman, Michael A.R., Tuke, Michael A., McKellop, Harry A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetals - chemistry
Chromium Alloys - chemistry
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health technology assessment
Humans
Knee Prosthesis
Male
Materials Testing
Polymers - chemistry
Prosthesis Failure
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In an effort to improve the long-term result of total joint replacement arthroplasty, we have investigated the use of a polymer-on-polymer articular replacement arthroplasty. Because of their known biocompatibility and previous use in orthopedic surgery, polyethylene and polyacetal (copolymer, Hoechst) were selected. Polyethylene served in its usual role as the concave member of the articulation; polyacetal formed the convex member. Formal wear testing using a multi-channel hip simulator demonstrated superior wear characteristics of the polymer-on-polymer configuration compared to a conventional chrome-cobalt versus polymer (polyethylene) configuration. A clinical series of relatively high-activity patients having a minimum five-year follow-up ( N = 26) showed no specific unfavorable reaction to this material combination in a total knee replacement. Given certain potential advantages of polymeric materials, as well as some theoretical disadvantages of metallic materials, a polymer-on-polymer design for a large joint replacement may have some merit.
ISSN:0267-6605
DOI:10.1016/0267-6605(93)90034-5