Introduction: Wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a major factor that affects longevity of the total joint replacement. In total hips (THR), cross-linking of polyethylene has been shown to be highly effective in reducing wear both clinically and experimentally [1-3]. Also, in TKR, Schmidig et al. [4] showed a 90% reduction of wear rate in 10 Mrad compared to 3 Mrad tibi...

Nitrogen Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) has been used to modify the surface chemical structure of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Grinding and polishing processes based on abrasive papers and alumina pastes have been evaluated with regard to their results on the improvement of polymer surface roughness, which has shown to be of crucial importance for hardness charac...

The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the clinical performance of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber cable for re-attachment of the osteotomized greater trochanter in hip surgery. Included in the study were 85 hips that had undergone surgery with greater trochanter osteotomy, including 50 hip arthroplasty procedures and 35 hip osteotomies. The osteotomized...

The applications of synchrotron radiation (SR) in medical imaging have become of great use, particularly in angiography, bronchography, mammography, computed tomography, and X-ray microscopy. Thanks to recently developed phase contrast imaging techniques non-destructive preclinical testing of low absorbing materials such as polymers has become possible. The focus of the present work is characte...

Introduction The orthopaedic industry has expended significant research effort in recent years in reducing wear of UHMWPE articulating surface components. One such approach has been in the development of a heavily crosslinked polyethylene. Crosslinking for long has been known to improve the wear resistance of industrial polyethylene. Clinical experience for over 20 years and an increasing magni...

Study Design. In vivo analysis in an ovine model.Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of radiopaque UHMWPE sublaminar wires in a growth-guidance spinal system by assessing stability, biocompatibility and growth potential.Summary of Background Data. Several growth-guidance systems have been developed for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). The use of gliding pedicle screws and metal ...

Introduction: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is the most widely used bearing surface option in total hip arthroplasty. Radiation cross-linking has improved the wear resistance of conventional UHMWPE. Radiation cross-linking also generates residual free radicals, adversely affecting long-term oxidative stability. Post irradiation melting is effectively used to eliminate residu...

Two tribological pairs used for artificial joints were studied. Wear tests were performed in a pin-on-disc type machine modified to allow lubrication ith bovine serum. The pins were made of either AISI F138 stainless steel or ASTM F136 titanium alloy, while the discs were manufactured with ltra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The tested pairs were ASTM F138 stainless steel–UHMWPE a...

The predominant cause of late-state failure of total hip replacements is wear-mediated osteolysis caused by wear particles that originate from the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) acetabular cup surface. One strategy for reducing wear particle formation from UHMWPE is to modify the surface with a hydrophilic coating to increase lubrication from synovial fluid. This study focuses...

Introduction. Increasing interest developed in the use of carbon-fiber-reinforced-poly-ether-ether-ketones (CFR-PEEK) as an alternative bearing material in knee arthroplasty. The effects of CFR-PEEK wear in in vitro and animal studies are controversially discussed, as there are no data available concerning human tissue. The aim of this study was to analyze human tissue containing CFR-PEEK as we...