Editorial Comment: Advances in UHMWPE Biomaterials

Excerpt

It is a curious time to be involved in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) research. On the one hand, as clinical history of first-generation highly crosslinked polyethylenes (HXLPE) now is into its second decade, there is little doubt that patients undergoing THA have benefitted from this no-longer-new technology. On the other hand, our specialty has been chastened by the largely unexpected complications associated with some metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement bearings, and in the wake of these circumstances, arthroplasty surgeons have reasonably become more conservative in their bearing choices. Pricing pressures make it more difficult than ever before to introduce new innovations into orthopaedic bearing materials, especially when several well-accepted bearing choices are available. …