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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 11/2010

01-11-2010 | Basic Science

Crosslinked polyethylene in knee arthroplasty: a simulator study evaluating the positive influence on the tribocontact area in the fixed-bearing knee

Authors: S. Utzschneider, N. Harrasser, P. Sadoghi, P. Weber, C. Schröder, M. F. Pietschmann, V. Jansson

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery | Issue 11/2010

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Abstract

Background

Crosslinked polyethylene (XPE) was developed to reduce the wear rate in hip as well as knee arthroplasty. The crosslinking process reduces the mechanical properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), particularly its fatigue strength. UHMWPE fatigue occurs more frequently in the knee than in the hip joint due to its changing tribocontact areas (TCAs) combined with high weight bearing. This is why XPE is still controversially discussed for use in total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, the potential advantage of using XPE in the knee was analysed in a simulator study with a focus on potential fatigue wear mechanisms.

Methods

Three different kinds of XPE and one conventional UHMWPE were tested over 5 million cycles in fixed-bearing knee designs. The TCAs were examined by replicas, and their extent was measured. The wear mechanism was analysed by scanning electron microscopy.

Results

The extent of the TCAs was less than 5% for all XPEs, whereas 35% for the conventional UHMWPE. Fatigue wear mechanisms were not observed.

Conclusion

The measured small extent of the TCAs as a predictor of a low wear rate without any fatigue wear mechanism shows a possible advantage for the use of XPE even in knee arthroplasty.
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Metadata
Title
Crosslinked polyethylene in knee arthroplasty: a simulator study evaluating the positive influence on the tribocontact area in the fixed-bearing knee
Authors
S. Utzschneider
N. Harrasser
P. Sadoghi
P. Weber
C. Schröder
M. F. Pietschmann
V. Jansson
Publication date
01-11-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery / Issue 11/2010
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1159-3

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