0251 - the Effect of a Silane Coupling Agent on the Alloy/pmma Interface

Introduction: Total joint replacement has long been the most effective treatment for severe arthritis in the hip. The most common clinical problem associated with the surgery is long-term aseptic loosening of the implant. The limited durability of the artificial joint, and the difficulty of revision surgery, have limited the potential applications of this treatment, particularly in younger and more active patients. Several studies using histological and radiographic methods have indicated that debonding at the metal-cement interface of the prosthesis is the first step in the failure process. One hypothesis for debonding is that body fluid diffuses along the metal-cement interface and weakens the adhesion of the cement to the metal by polar interaction. Additionally, because the cement is porous, fluid may cause swelling or crack growth as the cement cures and shrinks, and fluid moves into the pores. Dental researchers, facing similar concerns of binding a metal to acrylic cement in a fluid environment, have developed a silane coating which has been shown to improve adhesion under both dry and physiologic conditions. Our study attempted to characterize the behavior of silane treated and untreated metal-cement complexes with progressive exposure to a fluid interface.