Wear comparison between a highly cross-linked polyethylene and conventional polyethylene against a zirconia femoral head: minimum 5-year follow-up

Computed Tomographic Osteolytic Analysis of a First-Generation Remelted Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Total Hip Arthroplasty-At a Minimum of 15-Year Follow-Up

BACKGROUND

Low polyethylene wear rate and low incidence of osteolysis have been reported after total hip arthroplasty (THA) using first-generation remelted highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE). However, osteolysis has not been evaluated in long-term studies of these patients (15 years or more). The present study assessed computed tomography (CT) images to determine the incidence of osteolysis associated with HXLPE in THA during at least 15 years of follow-up.

METHODS

We evaluated 105 primary THAs in 84 patients (77 women and 7 men). Mean follow-up was 15.9 years (range, 15-18 years). All THAs used a Longevity HXLPE liner and a 26-mm zirconia femoral head. Areas of osteolysis were identified from CT images using 3D and multiplanar reconstruction views.

RESULTS

CT 3D multiplanar reconstruction images at 15-year follow-up showed no obvious osteolysis in the acetabulum or femur of any patient. No patients developed cup loosening or liner breakage.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that first-generation remelted HXLPE liners do not increase the risk of osteolysis during 15-year follow-up and suggests that the wear particles from first-generation remelted HXLPE are less biologically active than those generated by conventional polyethylene devices.

Femoral Head Penetration Rates of Second-Generation Sequentially Annealed Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene at Minimum Five Years

BACKGROUND

Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) liners in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have demonstrated decreased wear rates, resilience to cup orientation, and reduced osteolysis compared to conventional polyethylene. Sequential irradiation and annealing below the melting temperature is unique compared to most HXLPE which is irradiated and remelted. This study purpose is to provide minimum 5-year femoral head penetration rates of sequentially annealed HXLPE in primary THA.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database identified 198 consecutive, cementless primary THAs utilizing sequentially annealed HXLPE (X3; Stryker, Mahwah, NJ). Operative technique was standardized. Radiographs were analyzed utilizing the Martell method with minimum 5-year and 1-year radiographs as baseline to minimize the initial bedding-in period.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven hips with minimum 5-year follow-up were analyzed. Mean steady state linear and volumetric head penetration rates were 0.095 mm/y and 76 mm³/y, respectively. Volumetric head penetration was significantly less for 32-mm compared to 36-mm (P = .028). In addition, less head penetration was observed for ceramic 32-mm heads at nearly half the rate compared to cobalt-chromium 36-mm heads (P ≥ .092). No correlations existed between penetration rates and age, body mass index, University of California Los Angeles Activity Level, polyethylene thickness, cup inclination, or anteversion (P ≥ .10). No radiographic osteolysis was observed.

CONCLUSION

Surprisingly, linear head penetration rates of sequentially annealed HXLPE were nearly identical to the osteolysis threshold for conventional polyethylene and greater than reports of irradiated and remelted HXLPE. Furthermore, these data corroborate reports that HXLPE is resilient to cup orientation and demographic variables. Longer term follow-up is recommended.

Up to 18-Year Follow-Up Wear Analysis of a First-Generation Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

The advent of highly cross-linked polyethylene (HCLPE) has significantly improved total hip arthroplasty survivorship. HCLPE has been shown to improve wear properties in midterm outcomes when compared to traditional polyethylene liners; however, there is a paucity of studies evaluating long-term outcomes. In addition, there is concern that wear rates may accelerate as the implant ages. Thus, the aims of this study are to report on the longest-to-date follow-up of a specific first-generation HCLPE liner and to determine whether there is a change in the annual wear rate over time.

METHODS

Forty hips in 38 patients which were previously reported on in a midterm study were included in this long-term follow-up study. Patients in this cohort all received total hip arthroplasty between March 1999 and August 2004 using the Crossfire HCLPE liner. Annual wear rates (mm/y) were calculated for this cohort. Patients were contacted and asked about complications or revision procedures they may have had since the index procedure.

RESULTS

Clinical follow-up averaged 12.9 years with a range of 7-18 years. The average follow-up duration was 12.5 years with a range of 10-17 years. Linear wear was found to be 0.056 ± 0.036 mm/y. Osteolysis was not observed in any of the patients with greater than 10-year radiographic follow-up. Furthermore, only 1 patient required revision surgery following a mechanical fall.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates the long-term wear rates associated with HCLPE liners continue to match rates published in midterm studies. Previously, we have reported that this cohort had an average annual wear rate of 0.05 mm/y over 10 years. This most recent report demonstrates a similar wear rate with up to 18-year follow-up.

A long-term comparative study between two different designs of cemented stems: Distal-cylindrical versus distal-taper

Introduction

The aim of this study was to calculate the wear rate of highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) and investigate long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes related to two femoral stem designs, the distal-cylindrical (DC) and distal-taper (DT) stems.

Materials and methods

Outcomes for the DC and DT stems were evaluated in 110 patients, who underwent total hip arthroplasty using an HXLPE socket, over a 5-year follow-up period. There were 56 hips (53 patients) in the DC group and 60 hips (57 patients) in the DT group. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and radiographic changes. Polyethylene wear rate was calculated using a computer software.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 135.7 and 124.0 months for the DC and DT groups, respectively. Both stem designs improved hip function. On radiographic assessment, osteolysis around the tip of the stem was more frequent in the DC than in the DT group. Three cases of aseptic loosening of the stem were identified in the DC group, and no cases were identified in the DT group. The 10-year stem survival, using aseptic loosening as the primary endpoint, was 94.1% and 100% for the DC and DT groups, respectively (p = 0.06). The polyethylene wear rate was comparable for both stem groups.

Conclusion

Better clinical outcomes were obtained with the DT stem than with the DC stem regardless of the equivalent polyethylene wear rate for the two designs. The DC shape of the stem may increase the risk of aseptic loosening.

Retrieved Magnesia-Stabilized Zirconia Femoral Heads Exhibit Minimal Roughening and Abrasive Potential

BACKGROUND

The degradation of ceramic femoral heads made of yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) because of tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in vivo is well-described, whereas magnesia-stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) ceramics resist phase transformation in a warm aqueous environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate phase transformation, changes in surface topography, and roughness parameters, including changes in surface polarity and abrasiveness, among retrieved zirconia femoral heads.

METHODS

A total of 69 Y-TZP and 86 Mg-PSZ-retrieved femoral heads were examined, with 5 never-implanted heads of each type as controls. Selected heads were scanned by x-ray diffraction, to measure % monoclinic phase. All heads were scanned by optical profilometry to find visual evidence of degradation and to measure surface roughness, surface polarity, and the functional roughness parameters. Monoclinic phase % and roughness data were plotted vs time in vivo.

RESULTS

Visual evidence of phase transformation was observed among Y-TZP femoral heads, and some exhibited pitting. Y-TZP femoral heads roughened and become more abrasive in vivo, although those made by CeramTec exhibited less degradation than those by Morgan and Saint Gobain. In contrast, Mg-PSZ heads did not exhibit pitting, undergo phase transformation, or roughen in vivo, and retained a negative surface polarity.

CONCLUSION

All Y-TZP femoral heads exhibited increased phase transformation with time in vivo, although not all Y-TZP heads exhibited catastrophic roughening. No phase transformation was observed on Mg-PSZ femoral heads after up to 19.2 years in vivo. The lack of degradation among Mg-PSZ retrievals suggests a lower wear potential in joint replacement.

Oxidized zirconium head on crosslinked polyethylene liner in total hip arthroplasty: a 7- to 12-year in vivo comparative wear study

BACKGROUND

Osteolysis resulting from wear debris production from the bearing surfaces is a major factor limiting long-term survival of hip implants. Oxidized zirconium head on crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is a modern bearing coupling. However, midterm in vivo wear data of this coupling are not known.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo whether the combination of an oxidized zirconium femoral head on XLPE produces less wear than a ceramic head on XLPE or a ceramic head on conventional polyethylene (CPE) couplings and whether any of these bearing combinations results in higher hip scores.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2007, we performed 356 total hip arthroplasties in 288 patients; of those, 199 (69.1%) patients (199 hips) were enrolled in what began as a randomized trial. Unfortunately, after the 57(th) patient, the randomization process was halted because of patients' preference for the oxidized zirconium bearing instead of the ceramic after (as they were informed by the consent form), and after that, alternate allocation to the study groups was performed. Hips were allocated into four groups: in Group A, a 28-mm ceramic head on CPE was used; in Group B, a 28-mm ceramic head on XLPE; in Group C, a 28-mm Oxinium head on XLPE; and in Group D, a 32-mm Oxinium head on XLPE. The authors prospectively collected in vivo wear data (linear wear, linear wear rate, volumetric wear, and volumetric wear rate) using PolyWare software. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data, including Harris and Oxford hip scores, were also collected at regular intervals. Of those patients enrolled, 188 (95%) were available for final followup at a minimum of 7 years (mean, 9 years; range, 7-12 years).

RESULTS

All bearing surfaces showed a varying high bedding-in effect (plastic deformation of the liner) up to the second postoperative year. At 5 years both oxidized zirconium on XLPE groups showed lower (p < 0.01) volumetric wear (mean ± SD mm(3)) and volumetric wear rates (mean ± SD mm(3)/year) (Group C: 310 ± 55-206 ± 55 mm(3)/year, Group D: 320 ± 58-205 ± 61 mm(3)/year) when compared with ceramic on CPE (Group A: 791 ± 124-306 ± 85 mm(3)/year) and ceramic on XLPE (Group B: 1420 ± 223-366 ± 88 mm(3)/year) groups. For those patients who had completed 10 years of followup (20 patients [44.5%] of Group A, 21 [45.7%] of Group B, 23 [47.9%] of Group C, and 22 [44.9%] of Group D), at 10 years, both oxidized zirconium on XLPE groups also showed lower (p < 0.01) volumetric wear (mean ± SD mm(3)) and volumetric wear rates (mean ± SD mm(3)/year) (Group C: 356 ± 64 to 215 ± 54 mm(3)/year, Group D: 354 ± 50 to 210 ± 64 mm(3)/year) when compared with ceramic on CPE (Group A: 895 ± 131 to 380 ± 80 mm(3)/year) and ceramic on XLPE (Group B: 1625 ± 253 to 480 ± 101 mm(3)/year) groups. When wear rates of both oxidized zirconium groups were compared, no differences were found at any time interval with the numbers available. Two hips (one from Group A and one from Group B) are scheduled for revision as a result of wear and osteolysis. There were no differences in hip scores among the groups with the numbers available.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, in vivo wear parameters were lower when the combination of an oxidized zirconium head on XLPE liner was used at an average of 9 years (range, 7-12 years) followup. Further larger-scale clinical studies should confirm these findings and evaluate osteolysis and revision rates in association with the use of this bearing coupling.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, therapeutic study.

Is the use of thin, highly cross-linked polyethylene liners safe in total hip arthroplasty?

PURPOSE

Due to the high number of total hip arthroplasties (THA) revised due to instability, the use of large femoral heads to reduce instability is justifiable. It is critical to determine whether or not large femoral heads used in conjunction with thin polyethylene liners lead to increased wear rates, which can lead to osteolysis. Therefore, by using validated wear-analysis software, we evaluated linear wear rates in a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent primary THA with thin polyethylene liners.

METHODS

All patients were selected from a consecutive, prospectively collected database of 241 THAs performed at a single institution by two fellowship-trained joint-reconstruction surgeons between July 2007 and June 2011. These patients were 1:1 matched to a cohort of patients who had conventional-thickness polyethylene liners.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between linear wear rates of thin or conventional-thickness liners. The Kaplan-Meier survivorship for both cohorts was 100 %, and no cases of polyethylene fracture were observed in either cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that according to a mean follow-up of 4 years, the use of thin liners in THA is promising. Longer follow-up is required to assess whether these outcomes are observed later.

In vivo wear performance of highly cross-linked polyethylene vs. yttria stabilized zirconia and alumina stabilized zirconia at a mean seven-year follow-up

Background

Zirconia was introduced as an alternative to alumina for use in the femoral head. The yttria stabilized zirconia material was improved by adding alumina. We evaluated highly cross-linked polyethylene wear performance of zirconia in total hip arthroplasty. The hypothesis was that alumina stabilized zirconia could decrease highly cross-linked polyethylene wear.

Methods

Highly cross-linked polyethylene wear was measured with a computerized method (PolyWare) in 91 hips. The steady-state wear rates were measured based on the radiographs from the first year postoperatively to the final follow-up and were compared between hips with yttria stabilized zirconia and alumina stabilized zirconia.

Results

The steady-state wear rate of highly cross-linked polyethylene against zirconia was 0.02 mm/year at a mean follow-up of 7 years. No significant difference was observed between groups with yttria stabilized zirconia and alumina stabilized zirconia.

Conclusions

Addition of alumina to the zirconia material failed to show further reduction of highly cross-linked polyethylene wear and our hypothesis was not verified.

How smart do biomaterials need to be? A translational science and clinical point of view

Over the last 4 decades innovations in biomaterials and medical technology have had a sustainable impact on the development of biopolymers, titanium/stainless steel and ceramics utilized in medical devices and implants. This progress was primarily driven by issues of biocompatibility and demands for enhanced mechanical performance of permanent and non-permanent implants as well as medical devices and artificial organs. In the 21st century, the biomaterials community aims to develop advanced medical devices and implants, to establish techniques to meet these requirements, and to facilitate the treatment of older as well as younger patient cohorts. The major advances in the last 10 years from a cellular and molecular knowledge point of view provided the scientific foundation for the development of third-generation biomaterials. With the introduction of new concepts in molecular biology in the 2000s and specifically advances in genomics and proteomics, a differentiated understanding of biocompatibility slowly evolved. These cell biological discoveries significantly affected the way of biomaterials design and use. At the same time both clinical demands and patient expectations continued to grow. Therefore, the development of cutting-edge treatment strategies that alleviate or at least delay the need of implants could open up new vistas. This represents the main challenge for the biomaterials community in the 21st century. As a result, the present decade has seen the emergence of the fourth generation of biomaterials, the so-called smart or biomimetic materials. A key challenge in designing smart biomaterials is to capture the degree of complexity needed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural tissue. We are still a long way from recreating the molecular architecture of the ECM one to one and the dynamic mechanisms by which information is revealed in the ECM proteins in response to challenges within the host environment. This special issue on smart biomaterials lists a large number of excellent review articles which core is to present and discuss the basic sciences on the topic of smart biomaterials. On the other hand, the purpose of our review is to assess state of the art and future perspectives of the so called "smart biomaterials" from a translational science and specifically clinical point of view. Our aim is to filter out and discuss which biomedical advances and innovations help us to achieve the objective to translate smart biomaterials from bench to bedside. The authors predict that analyzing the field of smart biomaterials from a clinical point of view, looking back 50 years from now, it will show that this is our heritage in the 21st century.

Highly crosslinked polyethylene does not reduce aseptic loosening in cemented THA 10-year findings of a randomized study

BACKGROUND

Polyethylene (PE) wear particles are believed to cause aseptic loosening and thereby impair function in hip arthroplasty. Highly crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) has low short- and medium-term wear rates. However, the long-term wear characteristics are unknown and it is unclear whether reduced wear particle burden improves function and survival of cemented hip arthroplasty.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We asked whether XLPE wear rates remain low up to 10 years and whether this leads to improved implant fixation, periprosthetic bone quality, and clinical function compared to conventional PE.

METHODS

We randomized 60 patients (61 hips) to receive either PE or XLPE cemented cups combined with a cemented stem. At 10 years postoperatively, 51 patients (52 hips) were evaluated for polyethylene wear and component migration estimation by radiostereometry, for radiolucent lines, bone densitometry, and Harris hip and pain scores. Revisions were recorded.

RESULTS

XLPE cups had a lower mean three-dimensional wear rate between 2 and 10 years compared to conventional PE hips: 0.005 mm/year versus 0.056 mm/year. We found no differences in cup migration, bone mineral density, radiolucencies, functional scores, and revision rate. There was a trend toward improved stem fixation in the XLPE group. The overall stem failure rate was comparably high, without influencing wear rate in XLPE hips.

CONCLUSIONS

XLPE displayed a low wear rate up to 10 years when used in cemented THA, but we found no clear benefits in any other parameters. Further research is needed to determine whether cemented THA designs with XLPE are less prone to stem loosening.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Orthopedic applications of silicon nitride ceramics

Silicon nitride (Si(3)N(4)) is a ceramic material developed for industrial applications that demand high strength and fracture resistance under extreme operating conditions. Recently, Si(3)N(4) has been used as an orthopedic biomaterial, to promote bone fusion in spinal surgery and to develop bearings that can improve the wear and longevity of prosthetic hip and knee joints. Si(3)N(4) has been implanted in human patients for over 3 years now, and clinical trials with Si(3)N(4) femoral heads in prosthetic hip replacement are contemplated. This review will provide background information and data relating to Si(3)N(4) ceramics that will be of interest to engineering and medical professionals.

Reduced wear of cross-linked UHMWPE using magnesia-stabilized zirconia femoral heads in a hip simulator

BACKGROUND

To reduce wear, the ideal bearing surface in joint arthroplasty should be smooth and hydrophilic. Ceramics generally offer better wettability than metals and can be polished to a smoother finish. However, clinical studies have found no reduction in liner wear when using yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) instead of cobalt chromium alloy (CoCr) femoral heads.

QUESTION/PURPOSES

We (1) determined whether a hard, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating would enhance the wettability of CoCr and magnesia-stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) femoral heads without increasing roughness, and (2) compared their wear performance.

METHODS

In an observational study limited to CoCr and Mg-PSZ heads, we measured roughness and contact angle on as-received and DLC-coated heads. Eight heads then were subjected to 11 million cycles of wear in a hip simulator against cross-linked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (XLPE) liners.

RESULTS

Mg-PSZ femoral heads were smoother and more hydrophilic than CoCr heads. Although DLC coatings did not reduce roughness, they reduced the contact angle of CoCr and Mg-PSZ substrates, which may provide enhanced lubrication in vivo. In hip simulator tests, liners bearing against CoCr heads wore at a greater rate compared with Mg-PSZ heads. The DLC coating on Mg-PSZ heads did not reduce wear further.

CONCLUSIONS

The wear rate of XLPE versus Mg-PSZ was seven times less than CoCr heads, probably owing to lower roughness and greater wettability of Mg-PSZ heads.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The use of Mg-PSZ femoral heads should lead to reduced wear in vivo compared with CoCr heads, but the clinical benefit of DLC-coated Mg-PSZ is unclear.

History and systematic review of wear and osteolysis outcomes for first-generation highly crosslinked polyethylene

BACKGROUND

Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) was introduced to reduce wear and osteolysis in total joint arthroplasty. While many studies report wear and osteolysis associated with HXLPE, analytical techniques, clinical study design and followup, HXLPE formulation and implant design characteristics, and patient populations differ substantially among investigations, complicating a unified perspective.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

Literature on first-generation HXLPE was summarized. We systematically reviewed the radiographic wear data and incidence of osteolysis for HXLPE in hip and knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

PubMed identified 391 studies; 28 met inclusion criteria for a weighted-averages analysis of two-dimensional femoral head penetration rates. To determine the incidence of osteolysis, we estimated a pooled odds ratio using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Weighted-averages analyses of femoral head penetration rates in HXLPE liners and conventional UHMWPE liners resulted, respectively, in a mean two-dimensional linear penetration rate of 0.042 mm/year based on 28 studies (n=1503 hips) and 0.137 mm/year based on 18 studies (n=695 hips). The pooled odds ratio for the risk of osteolysis in HXLPE versus conventional liners was 0.13 (95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.27) among studies with minimum 5-year followup. We identified two clinical studies of HXLPE in TKA, preventing systematic analysis of outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

HXLPE liner studies consistently report lower femoral head penetration and an 87% lower risk of osteolysis. Reduction in femoral head penetration or osteolysis risk is not established for large-diameter (>32 mm) metallic femoral heads or ceramic femoral heads of any size. Few studies document the clinical performance of HXLPE in knees.