Failure analysis on retrieved ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) acetabular cups

Polyethylene wear from retrieved acetabular cups.

Laboratory wear testing of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene from 12 Charnley acetabular cups, removed after periods of up to 17.5 years showed that the large patient-to-patient variations in clinical penetration rate cannot be explained by batch-to-batch variation in the wear resistance of the material. Nor was there any evidence of a time-dependent degradation in wear resistance of the...

Synthesis and Tribological Behavior of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)-Lignin Composites

In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-lignin composites. During this study four different compositions, namely UHMWPE, UHMWPE-13 wt. % lignin, UHMWPE-25 wt. % lignin and UHMWPE-42.5 wt. % lignin were fabricated by hot pressing. Detailed microstructural studies by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that UHMWPE and ...

Ultra high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in total knee replacement: fabrication, sterilisation and wear.

THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY G. Blunn, PhD, Professor The Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Orthopaedics, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4LP, UK. E. M. Brach del Preva, MD, Associate Professor Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, University of Turin, Via Zuretti 29, 10126 Turin, Italy. L. Costa, PhD, Professor IFM Chemistry Department, University of Turin,...

Wear of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

Identification of nanometre-sized ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene wear particles in samples retrieved in vivo.

Nanometre-sized particles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene have been identified in the lubricants retrieved from hip simulators. Tissue samples were taken from seven failed Charnley total hip replacements, digested using strong alkali and analysed using high-resolution field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy to determine whether nanometre-sized particles of polyethylene debri...