Klawitter JJ, Patton J, More R, Peter N, Podnos E, Ross M. In vitro comparison of wear characteristics of PyroCarbon and metal on bone: Shoulder hemiarthroplasty.
Shoulder Elbow 2020;
12:11-22. [PMID:
33343712 PMCID:
PMC7726179 DOI:
10.1177/1758573218796837]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There are concerns regarding glenoid erosion with metal shoulder hemiarthroplasty. PyroCarbon may offer an alternative because of favorable wear characteristics and preservation of the glenoid. The purpose of this study was to assess in vitro bone wear characteristics of PyroCarbon relative to cobalt chromium alloy hemiarthroplasty in a shoulder wear simulator.
METHODS
Wear of PyroCarbon and cobalt chromium prostheses articulating with bone were characterized by means of bone wear penetration rate, changes to surface roughness, and wear particle analysis.
RESULTS
PyroCarbon prostheses produced significantly less damage to bone and were less damaged by the bone than cobalt chromium prostheses. Cobalt chromium testing was halted at approximately 320,000 cycles because the bone was consumed. Wear testing of PyroCarbon specimens continued through five million cycles. Linearized bone penetration rate, bone volume loss rate, and surface roughness for cobalt chromium test specimens were 30 times greater than for PyroCarbon.
CONCLUSIONS
Results demonstrate significantly less damage to bone in simulated shoulder function testing for PyroCarbon hemiarthroplasty implants relative to conventional cobalt chromium implants. Our study supports use of PyroCarbon in humeral head hemiarthroplasty as a viable alternative to conventional metal hemiarthroplasty. Further investigation of PyroCarbon performance in clinical settings is warranted.
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