Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

MDPI, Materials, 16(13), p. 3569, 2020

DOI: 10.3390/ma13163569

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Influence of Metallic Deposition on Ceramic Femoral Heads on the Wear Behavior of Artificial Hip Joints: A Simulator Study

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Several retrieval studies have reported on metallic depositions on ceramic femoral heads, but the effect on the wear behavior of artificial hip joints has not been investigated in wear simulator studies. In the present study, retrieved ceramic heads with metallic depositions as third particles were tested against cross-linked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) liners in a hip wear simulator. The amount of liner wear and expansion of metallic depositions on the heads were determined before and after wear testing with digital microscopy. The surface roughness of the heads was investigated in areas with and without metallic depositions by laser scanning microscopy. After five million load cycles, a non-significant reduction in the metallic formation on the retrieved heads was found. The metallic areas showed a higher surface roughness compared to unconcerned areas. The liners showed a higher wear rate of 1.57 ± 1.36 mg/million cycles for 28 mm heads and 2.42 ± 0.82 mg/million cycles for 36 mm heads with metallic depositions, in comparison with new ceramic heads with a 28 mm size ((−0.06 ± 0.89) mg/million cycles) and 36 mm size ((2.04 ± 0.46) mg/million cycles). Metallic transfer on ceramic heads can lead to an increased surface roughness and higher wear rates at the UHMWPE liners. Therefore, metallic contact of the ceramic femoral head should be avoided.