Initial stability of a cementless acetabular cup design: experimental investigation on the effect of adding fins to the rim of the cup

Implementing Machine Learning approaches for accelerated prediction of bone strain in acetabulum of a hip joint

The Finite Element (FE) methods for biomechanical analysis involving implant design and subject parameters for musculoskeletal applications are extensively reported in literature. Such an approach is manually intensive and computationally expensive with longer simulations times. Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) based approaches are implemented to a limited extent in biomechanics, such approaches to predict bone strain in acetabulum of a hip joint, are hardly explored. In this context, the primary objective of this paper is to evaluate machine learning (ML) models in tandem with high-fidelity FEA data for the accelerated prediction of the biomechanical response in the acetabulum of the human hip joint, during the walking gait. The parameters used in the FEA study included the subject weight, number and distribution of fins on the periphery of the acetabular shell, bone condition and phases of the gait cycle. The biomechanical response has also been evaluated using three different acetabular liners, including pre-clinically validated HDPE-20% HA-20% Al2O3, highly-crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HC-UHMWPE) and ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 (ZTA). Such parametric variation in FEA analysis, involving 26 variables and a full factorial design resulted in 10,752 datasets for spatially varying bone strains. The bone condition, as opposed to subject weight, was found to play a statistically significant role in determining the strain response in the periprosthetic bone of the acetabulum. While utilising hyperparameter tuning, K-fold cross validation and statistical learning approaches, a number of ML models were trained on the FEA dataset, and the Random Forest model performed the best with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.99/0.97 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.02/0.01 on the training/test dataset. Taken together, this study establishes the potential of ML approach as a fast surrogate of FEA for implant biomechanics analysis, in less than a minute.

Comparison of Test Setups for the Experimental Evaluation of the Primary Fixation Stability of Acetabular Cups

Sufficient primary fixation stability is the basis for the osseointegration of cementless acetabular cups. Several test methods have been established for determining the tilting moment of acetabular press-fit cups, which is a measure for their primary fixation stability. The central aim of this experimental study was to show the differences between the commonly used lever-out test method (Method 1) and the edge-load test method (Method 2) in which the cup insert is axially loaded (1 kN) during the tilting process with respect to the parameters, tilting moment, and interface stiffness. Therefore, using a biomechanical cup block model, a press-fit cup design with a macro-structured surface was pushed into three cavity types (intact, moderate superior defect, and two-point-pinching cavity) made of 15 pcf and 30 pcf polyurethane foam blocks (n = 3 per cavity and foam density combination), respectively. Subsequently, the acetabular cup was disassembled from the three artificial bone cavities using the lever-out and the edge-load test method. Tilting moments determined with Method 1 ranged from 2.72 ± 0.29 Nm to 49.08 ± 1.50 Nm, and with Method 2, they ranged from 41.40 ± 1.05 Nm to 112.86 ± 5.29 Nm. In Method 2, larger areas of abrasion were observed in the artificial bone cavity compared to Method 1. This indicates increased shear forces at the implant–bone interface in the former method. In conclusion, Method 1 simulates the technique used by orthopedic surgeons to assess the correct fit of the trial cup, while Method 2 simulates the tilting of the cup in the acetabular bone cavity under in situ loading with the hip resultant force.

Impaction technique influences implant stability in low-density bone model

Aims

Cementless acetabular components rely on press-fit fixation for initial stability. In certain cases, initial stability is more difficult to obtain (such as during revision). No current study evaluates how a surgeon’s impaction technique (mallet mass, mallet velocity, and number of strikes) may affect component fixation. This study seeks to answer the following research questions: 1) how does impaction technique affect a) bone strain generation and deterioration (and hence implant stability) and b) seating in different density bones?; and 2) can an impaction technique be recommended to minimize risk of implant loosening while ensuring seating of the acetabular component?

Methods

A custom drop tower was used to simulate surgical strikes seating acetabular components into synthetic bone. Strike velocity and drop mass were varied. Synthetic bone strain was measured using strain gauges and stability was assessed via push-out tests. Polar gap was measured using optical trackers.

Results

A phenomenon of strain deterioration was identified if an excessive number of strikes was used to seat a component. This effect was most pronounced in low-density bone at high strike velocities. Polar gap was reduced with increasing strike mass and velocity.

Conclusion

A high mallet mass with low strike velocity resulted in satisfactory implant stability and polar gap, while minimizing the risk of losing stability due to over-striking. Extreme caution not to over-strike must be exercised when using high velocity strikes in low-density bone for any mallet mass.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):386–393.

Patient and surgical variability in the primary stability of cementless acetabular cups: A finite element study

Aseptic loosening is the most common indication for revision of cementless acetabular cups and often depends on the primary stability achieved following surgery. Cup designs must be capable of achieving primary stability for a wide variety of individuals and surgical conditions to be successful. Typically, preclinical finite element (FE) testing of cups involves assessing the performance in a single patient and under a limited set of idealized conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of patient and surgical parameters on the primary stability of an acetabular cup design in a set of subject-specific FE models. Interference fit was varied in a representative set of 12 patient-specific models of the implanted hemipelvis. Linear mixed models showed a significant association with micromotion for interference fit (P < .0001), acetabular bone elastic modulus (P < .001), native acetabular diameter (P  = .03), and the interference fit-elastic modulus interaction (P = .01). There were no significant associations between the polar gap and any of the parameters considered. The significant interference fit-elastic modulus interaction suggests that increasing the interference fit in patients with low bone quality leads to a greater reduction in micromotion than in patients with higher bone quality. However, the significant association between percentage bone yielding and interference fit (P < .0001) suggests a higher periacetabular fracture risk at higher interference fits. This work supports the development of preclinical testing of cup designs for the broad range patients and surgical conditions a cup may face following surgery.

Fixation Stability of Uncemented Acetabular Cups With Respect to Different Bone Defect Sizes

BACKGROUND

In total hip arthroplasty, acetabular press-fit cups require a proper bone stock for sufficient primary implant fixation. The presence of acetabular bone defects compromises the primary fixation stability of acetabular press-fit cups. The aim of the present study is to determine the fixation stability of a cementless acetabular cup regarding standardized bone defects in an experimental setup.

METHODS

An acetabular defect model was developed and transferred to a biomechanical cup-block model. The lack of superior cup coverage was divided into 4 stages of superior rim loss (33%, 50%, 67%, and 83%) in the anterior-posterior direction and into 4 stages of mediolateral wall absence (11%, 22%, 33%, and 50%). This resulted in 11 different defect cavities, which were compared to the intact cavity in push-in and lever-out tests of one press-fit cup design (56 mm outer diameter). Thereby, push-in force, lever-out moment, lever-out angle, and interface stiffness were determined.

RESULTS

The determined lever-out moments range from 15.53 ± 1.38 Nm (intact cavity) to 1.37 ± 0.54 Nm (83%/50% defect). Smaller defects (33%/11%, 33%/22%, and 50%/11%) reduce the lever-out moments by an average of 33.9% ± 2.8%.

CONCLUSION

The lack of mediolateral acetabular coverage of 50% was assessed as critical for cementless cup fixation, whereby the contact zone between implant and bone in the defect is lost. A lack of 20% to 30% mediolateral coverage appears to be acceptable for press-fit cup fixation in the presence of primary stability. A defect of 50%/50% was identified as the threshold for using additional fixation methods.

Ex vivo estimation of cementless femoral stem stability using an instrumented hammer

BACKGROUND

The success of cementless hip arthroplasty depends on the primary stability of the femoral stem. It remains difficult to assess the optimal number of impacts to guarantee the femoral stem stability while avoiding bone fracture. The aim of this study is to validate a method using a hammer instrumented with a force sensor to monitor the insertion of femoral stem in bovine femoral samples.

METHODS

Different cementless femoral stem were impacted into five bovine femur samples, leading to 99 configurations. Three methods were used to quantify the insertion endpoint: the impact hammer, video motion tracking and the surgeon proprioception. For each configuration, the number of impacts performed by the surgeon until he felt a correct insertion was noted N_surg. The insertion depth E was measured through video motion tracking, and the impact number N_vid corresponding to the end of the insertion was estimated. Two indicators, noted I and D, were determined from the analysis of the time variation of the force, and the impact number N_d corresponding to a threshold reached in D variation was estimated.

FINDINGS

The pullout force of the femoral stem was significantly correlated with I (R² = 0.81). The values of N_surg, N_vid and N_d were similar for all configurations.

INTERPRETATION

The results validate the use of the impact hammer to assess the primary stability of the femoral stem and the moment when the surgeon should stop the impaction procedure for an optimal insertion, which could lead to the development of a decision support system.

Two Different Methods to Measure the Stability of Acetabular Implants: A Comparison Using Artificial Acetabular Models

The total number of total hip arthroplasties is increasing every year, and approximately 10% of these surgeries are revisions. New implant design and surgical techniques are evolving quickly and demand accurate preclinical evaluation. The initial stability of cementless implants is one of the main concerns of these preclinical evaluations. A broad range of initial stability test methods is currently used, which can be categorized into two main groups: Load-to-failure tests and relative micromotion measurements. Measuring relative micromotion between implant and bone is recognized as the golden standard for implant stability testing as this micromotion is directly linked to the long-term fixation of cementless implants. However, specific custom-made set-ups are required to measure this micromotion, with the result that numerous studies opt to perform more straightforward load-to-failure tests. A custom-made micromotion test set-up for artificial acetabular bone models was developed and used to compare load-to-failure (implant push-out test) with micromotion and to assess the influence of bone material properties and press-fit on the implant stability. The results showed a high degree of correlation between micromotion and load-to-failure stability metrics, which indicates that load-to-failure stability tests can be an appropriate estimator of the primary stability of acetabular implants. Nevertheless, micromotions still apply as the golden standard and are preferred when high accuracy is necessary. Higher bone density resulted in an increase in implant stability. An increase of press-fit from 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm did not significantly increase implant stability.

Effect of different motor tasks on hip cup primary stability and on the strains in the periacetabular bone: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Excessive prosthesis/bone motions and the bone strains around the acetabulum may prevent osteointegration and lead to cup loosening. These two factors depend on post-operative joint loading. We investigated how Walking (which is often simulated) and Standing-Up from seated (possibly more critical) influence the cup primary stability and periacetabular strains.

METHODS

Twelve composite hemipelvises were used in two test campaigns. Simplified loading conditions were adopted to simulate Walking and Standing-Up. For each motor task, a single-direction force was applied in load packages of increasing amplitude. Stable and unstable uncemented cups were implanted. Digital image correlation was used to measure implant/bone motions (three-dimensional translations and rotations, both permanent and inducible), and the strain distribution around the acetabulum.

FINDINGS

When stable implants were tested, higher permanent cranial translations were found during Walking (however the resultant migrations were comparable with Standing-Up); higher rotations were found for Standing-Up. When unstable implants were tested, motions were 1-2 order of magnitude higher. Strains increased significantly from stable to unstable implants. The peak strains were in the superior aspect of the acetabulum during Walking and in the superior-posterior aspect of the acetabulum and at the bottom of the posterior column during Standing-Up.

INTERPRETATION

Different cup migration trends were caused by simulated Walking and Standing-Up, both similar to those observed clinically. The cup mobilization pattern depended on the different simulated motor tasks. Pre-clinical testing of new uncemented cups could include simulation of both motor tasks. Our study could also translate to indication of what tasks should be avoided.

Effect of impaction energy on dynamic bone strains, fixation strength, and seating of cementless acetabular cups

Seating a cementless acetabular cup via impaction is a balancing act; good cup fixation must be obtained to ensure adequate bone in-growth and cup apposition, while acetabular fracture must be avoided. Good impaction technique is essential to the success of hip arthroplasty. Yet little guidance exists in the literature to inform surgeons on "how hard" to hit. A drop rig and synthetic bone model were used to vary the energy of impaction strikes in low and high-density synthetic bone, while key parameters such as dynamic strain (quantifying fracture risk), implant fixation, and polar gap were measured. For high energy impaction (15 J) in low-density synthetic bone, a peak tensile strain was observed during impaction that was up to 3.4× as large as post-strike strain, indicating a high fracture risk. Diminishing returns were observed for pushout fixation with increasing energy. Eighty-five percent of the pushout fixation achieved using a 15 J impaction strike was attained by using a 7.5 J strike energy. Similarly, polar gap was only minimally reduced at high impaction energies. Therefore it is suggested that higher energy strikes increase fracture risk, but do not offer large improvements to fixation or implant-bone apposition. It may difficult be for surgeons to accurately deliver specific impaction energies, suggesting there is scope for operative tools to manage implant seating. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research^® published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 37:2367-2375, 2019.

Finite Element Analysis to Probe the Influence of Acetabular Shell Design, Liner Material, and Subject Parameters on Biomechanical Response in Periprosthetic Bone

The implant stability and biomechanical response of periprosthetic bone in acetabulum around total hip joint replacement (THR) devices depend on a host of parameters, including design of articulating materials, gait cycle and subject parameters. In this study, the impact of shell design (conventional, finned, spiked, and combined design) and liner material on the biomechanical response of periprosthetic bone has been analyzed using finite element (FE) method. Two different liner materials: high density polyethylene-20% hydroxyapatite-20% alumina (HDPE-20%HA-20%Al2O3) and highly cross-linked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HC-UHMWPE) were used. The subject parameters included bone condition and bodyweight. Physiologically relevant load cases of a gait cycle were considered. The deviation of mechanical condition of the periprosthetic bone due to implantation was least for the finned shell design. No significant deviation was observed at the bone region adjacent to the spikes and the fins. This study recommends the use of the finned design, particularly for weaker bone conditions. For stronger bones, the combined design may also be recommended for higher stability. The use of HC-UHMWPE liner was found to be better for convensional shell design. However, similar biomechanical response was captured in our FE analysis for both the liner materials in case of other shell designs. Overall, the study establishes the biomechanical response of periprosthetic bone in the acetabular with preclinically tested liner materials together with new shell design for different subject conditions.

Effect of interposed tissue and contamination on the initial stability of a highly porous press-fit acetabular cup

For biologic fixation, press-fit acetabular cups should have initial stability with minimal micromotion and osteoconductive surfaces in contact with bone. Inadequate exposure potentially influences initial stability by increasing the possibility of soft tissue interposition and contamination at the implant-tissue interface. A sawbone model was used to examine how interposed tissue and contamination influence initial cup stability. Seven groups (n = 4) were tested with varying levels of interposed fatty and fibrous tissue placed around the rim of the cup. 54 millimeter in diameter highly porous hemispherical acetabular cups (Stryker, Mahwah NJ) and 54 mm reamed cavities in sawbone blocks were used. Shells were seated and maximum lever out force was recorded for each sample. Cups with fibrous tissue spaced evenly along the rim had a lever out force that was 150% of the control (107 ± 6 vs. 150 ± 12N, p = 0.005), and fatty tissue contamination had a lever out force that was 140% of the control (143 ± 18 vs. 107 ± 6N, p = 0.04). Cups with fibrous tissue placed eccentrically along the rim had a lever out force that was double the control 107 ± 6 N vs. 200 ± 15 N (p = 0.001). Surprisingly, fatty tissue contamination and fibrous tissue interposition at the rim increased initial stability. The eccentrically interposed tissue forced the opposite pole of the cup into the bone, resulting in a more secure press-fit. However, soft tissue interposition decreases implant/bone apposition, and the effect on long term fixation is unknown. Statement of Clinical Significance: Soft tissue interposition between the bone and cup may provide higher initial stability, but its long-term effects are unknown. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res.

Influence of Synthetic Bone Substitutes on the Anchorage Behavior of Open-Porous Acetabular Cup

BACKGROUND

The development in implants such as acetabular cups using additive manufacturing techniques is playing an increasingly important role in the healthcare industry.

METHOD

This study compared the primary stability of four selectively laser-melted press-fit cups (Ti6Al4V) with open-porous, load-bearing structural elements on the surface. The aim was to assess whether the material of the artificial bone stock affects the primary stability of the acetabular cup. The surface structures consist of repeated open-porous, load-bearing elements orthogonal to the acetabular surface. Experimental pull-out and lever-out tests were performed on exact-fit and press-fit cups to evaluate the primary stability of the cups in different synthetic bone substitutes. The acetabular components were placed in three different commercially available synthetic materials (ROHACELL-IGF 110, SikaBlock M330, Sawbones Solid Rigid). Results & conclusions: Within the scope of the study, it was possible to show the differences in fixation strength between the tested acetabular cups depending on their design, the structural elements used, and the different bone substitute material. In addition, functional correlations could be found which provide a qualitative reference to the material density of the bone stock and the press-fit volume of the acetabular cups.

Calibration of crushable foam plasticity models for synthetic bone material for use in finite element analysis of acetabular cup deformation and primary stability

Polyurethane (PU) foam is a material often used in biomechanical experiments and demands for the definition of crushable foam plasticity (CFP) in numerical simulations of the primary stability and deformation of implants, to describe the crushing behaviour appropriately. Material data of PU foams with five different densities (10-40 pounds per cubic foot were ascertained experimentally in uniaxial compression test and used to calibrate CFP models for finite element modelling. Additionally, experimental and numerical deformation, push-out and lever-out tests of press-fit acetabular cups were carried out to assess the influence of the chosen material definition (linear elastic and CFP) on the numerical results. Comparison of the experimentally and numerically determined force-displacement curves of the uniaxial compression test showed a mean deviation of less than 3%. In primary stability testing, the deviation between the experimental and numerical results was in a range of 0%-27% for CFP modelling and 64%-341% for the linear elastic model. The material definition selected, highly influenced the numerical results in the current study. The use of a CFP model is recommended for further numerical simulations, when a deformation of the foam beyond the yield strength is likely to occur.

Experimental Characterization of the Primary Stability of Acetabular Press-Fit Cups with Open-Porous Load-Bearing Structures on the Surface Layer

Background: Nowadays, hip cups are being used in a wide range of design versions and in an increasing number of units. Their development is progressing steadily. In contrast to conventional methods of manufacturing acetabular cups, additive methods play an increasingly central role in the development progress. Method: A series of eight modified cups were developed on the basis of a standard press-fit cup with a pole flattening and in a reduced version. The surface structures consist of repetitive open-pore load-bearing textural elements aligned right-angled to the cup surface. We used three different types of unit cells (twisted, combined and combined open structures) for constructing of the surface structure. All cups were manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) of titanium powder (Ti6Al4V). To evaluate the primary stability of the press fit cups in the artificial bone cavity, pull-out and lever-out tests were conducted. All tests were carried out under exact fit conditions. The closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foam, which was used as an artificial bone cavity, was characterized mechanically in order to preempt any potential impact on the test results. Results and conclusions: The pull-out forces as well as the lever moments of the examined cups differ significantly depending on the elementary cells used. The best results in pull-out forces and lever-out moments are shown by the press-fit cups with a combined structure. The results for the assessment of primary stability are related to the geometry used (unit cell), the dimensions of the unit cell, and the volume and porosity responsible for the press fit. Corresponding functional relationships could be identified. The findings show that the implementation of reduced cups in a press-fit design makes sense as part of the development work.

Influence of soft tissue in the assessment of the primary fixation of acetabular cup implants using impact analyses

BACKGROUND

The acetabular cup (AC) implant primary stability is an important determinant for the success of cementless hip surgery but it remains difficult to assess the AC implant fixation in the clinic. A method based on the analysis of the impact produced by an instrumented hammer on the ancillary has been developed by our group (Michel et al., 2016a). However, the soft tissue thickness present around the acetabulum may affect the impact response, which may hamper the robustness of the method. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the soft tissue thickness (STT) on the acetabular cup implant primary fixation evaluation using impact analyses.

METHODS

To do so, different AC implants were inserted in five bovine bone samples. For each sample, different stability conditions were obtained by changing the cavity diameter. For each configuration, the AC implant was impacted 25 times with 10 and 30 mm of soft tissues positioned underneath the sample. The averaged indicator I_m was determined based on the amplitude of the signal for each configuration and each STT and the pull-out force was measured.

FINDINGS

The results show that the resonance frequency of the system increases when the value of the soft tissue thickness decreases. Moreover, an ANOVA analysis shows that there was no significant effect of the value of soft tissue thickness on the values of the indicator I_m (F = 2.33; p-value = 0.13).

INTERPRETATION

This study shows that soft tissue thickness does not appear to alter the prediction of the acetabular cup implant primary fixation obtained using the impact analysis approach, opening the path towards future clinical trials.

A novel approach to determine primary stability of acetabular press-fit cups

Today hip cups are used in a large variety of design variants and in increasing numbers of units. Their development is steadily progressing. In addition to conventional manufacturing methods for hip cups, additive methods, in particular, play an increasingly important role as development progresses. The present paper describes a modified cup model developed based on a commercially available press-fit cup (Allofit 54/JJ). The press-fit cup was designed in two variants and manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM). Variant 1 (Ti) was modeled on the Allofit cup using an adapted process technology. Variant 2 (Ti-S) was provided with a porous load bearing structure on its surface. In addition to the typical (complete) geometry, both variants were also manufactured and tested in a reduced shape where only the press-fit area was formed. To assess the primary stability of the press-fit cups in the artificial bone cavity, pull-out and lever-out tests were carried out. Exact fit conditions and two-millimeter press-fit were investigated. The closed-cell PU foam used as an artificial bone cavity was mechanically characterized to exclude any influence on the results of the investigation. The pull-out forces of the Ti-variant (complete-526 N, reduced-468 N) and the Ti-S variant (complete-548 N, reduced-526 N) as well as the lever-out moments of the Ti-variant (complete-10 Nm, reduced-9.8 Nm) and the Ti-S variant (complete-9 Nm, reduced-7.9 N) show no significant differences in the results between complete and reduced cups. The results show that the use of reduced cups in a press-fit design is possible within the scope of development work.

Assessing the Acetabular Cup Implant Primary Stability by Impact Analyses: A Cadaveric Study

BACKGROUND

The primary stability of the acetabular cup (AC) implant is an important determinant for the long term success of cementless hip surgery. However, it remains difficult to assess the AC implant stability due to the complex nature of the bone-implant interface. A compromise should be found when inserting the AC implant in order to obtain a sufficient implant stability without risking bone fracture. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of impact signals analyses to assess the primary stability of AC implants inserted in cadaveric specimens.

METHODS

AC implants with various sizes were inserted in 12 cadaveric hips following the same protocol as the one employed in the clinic, leading to 86 different configurations. A hammer instrumented with a piezoelectric force sensor was then used to measure the variation of the force as a function of time produced during the impact between the hammer and the ancillary. Then, an indicator I was determined for each impact based on the impact momentum. For each configuration, twelve impacts were realized with the hammer, the value of the maximum amplitude being comprised between 2500 and 4500 N, which allows to determine an averaged value IM of the indicator for each configuration. The pull-out force F was measured using a tangential pull-out biomechanical test.

RESULTS

A significant correlation (R2 = 0.69) was found between IM and F when pooling all data, which indicates that information related to the AC implant biomechanical stability can be retrieved from the analysis of impact signals obtained in cadavers.

CONCLUSION

These results open new paths in the development of a medical device that could be used in the future in the operative room to help orthopedic surgeons adapt the surgical protocol in a patient specific manner.

Finite element model of the impaction of a press-fitted acetabular cup

Press-fit surgical procedures aim at providing primary stability to acetabular cup (AC) implants. Impact analysis constitutes a powerful approach to retrieve the AC implant insertion properties. The aim of this numerical study was to investigate the dynamic interaction occurring between the hammer, the ancillary and bone tissue during the impact and to assess the potential of impact analysis to retrieve AC implant insertion conditions. A dynamic two-dimensional axisymmetric model was developed to simulate the impaction of the AC implant into bone tissue assuming friction at the bone-implant interface and large deformations. Different values of interference fit (from 0.5 to 2 mm) and impact velocities (from 1 to 2 m.s^-1) were considered. For each configuration, the variation of the force applied between the hammer and the ancillary was analyzed and an indicator I was determined based on the impact momentum of the signal. The simulated results are compared to the experiments. The value of the polar gap decreases with the impact velocity and increases with the interference fit. The bone-implant contact area was significantly correlated with the resonance frequency (R ² = 0.94) and the indicator (R ² = 0.95). The results show the potential of impact analyses to retrieve the bone-implant contact properties.

Stability of Uncemented Cups - Long-Term Effect of Screws, Pegs and HA Coating: A 14-Year RSA Follow-Up of Total Hip Arthroplasty

Screws, pegs and hydroxyapatite-coating are used to enhance the primary stability of uncemented cups. We present a 14-year follow-up of 48 hips randomized to four groups: press-fit only, press-fit plus screws, press-fit plus pegs and hydroxyapatite-coated cups. Radiostereometric migration measurements showed equally good stability regardless cup augmentation. The mean wear rate was high, 0.21 mm/year, with no differences between the groups. Seven hips had radiographical osteolysis but only in hips with augmented cups. Cups without screw-holes compared with cups with screw-holes resulted in better clinical outcome at the 14-year follow-up. Thus, augmentation of uncemented cups with screws, pegs, or hydroxyapatite did not appear to improve the long-term stability compared with press-fit only.

Ex vivo estimation of cementless acetabular cup stability using an impact hammer

Obtaining primary stability of acetabular cup (AC) implants is one of the main objectives of press-fit procedures used for cementless hip arthroplasty. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the AC implant primary stability can be evaluated using the signals obtained with an impact hammer. A hammer equipped with a force sensor was used to impact the AC implant in 20 bovine bone samples. For each sample, different stability conditions were obtained by changing the cavity diameter. For each configuration, the inserted AC implant was impacted four times with a maximum force comprised between 2500 and 4500 N. An indicator I was determined based on the partial impulse estimation and the pull-out force was measured. The implant stability and the value of the indicator I reached a maximum value for an interference fit equal to 1 mm for 18 out of 20 samples. When pooling all samples and all configurations, the implant stability and I were significantly correlated (R(2) = 0.83). The AC implant primary stability can be assessed through the analysis of the impact force signals obtained using an impact hammer. Based on these ex vivo results, a medical device could be developed to provide a decision support system to the orthopedic surgeons.

Method for the location of primary wear scars from retrieved metal on metal hip replacements

Background

Retrieved metal-on-metal acetabular cups are valuable resources in investigating the wear behaviour of failed hip implants, but adequate methods to do so are lacking. To further contribute to addressing this issue, we developed a method to detect the in vivo location of the primary wear scar of an explanted cup.

Methods

We proposed a new method in which thirteen patients with failed metal hip resurfacings were recruited, and their acetabular components retrieved. A 3D wear map was generated and the precise location of the primary wear scar in each cup was identified using a coordinate measuring machine. This wear scar location was noted in relation to the features on the acetabular cup. Having identified the location of the wear scar, this 3D positional map was co-registered to the implant on the patient’s pelvic 3D CT scan.

Results

Using our proposed technique, we were able to demonstrate that the in vivo position of the primary wear scar in explanted metal acetabular cups can be variable.

Conclusions

This method has utilised existing techniques to better understand the three-dimensional properties of wear behaviour, and may be a method which can be used in further studies to investigate variables that affect the position of the primary wear scar.

Does osteoporosis reduce the primary tilting stability of cementless acetabular cups?

Background

Cementless hip cups need sufficient primary tilting stability to achieve osseointegration. The aim of the study was to assess differences of the primary implant stability in osteoporotic bone and in bone with normal bone density. To assess the influence of different cup designs, two types of threaded and two types of press-fit cups were tested.

Methods

The maximum tilting moment for two different cementless threaded cups and two different cementless press-fit cups was determined in macerated human hip acetabuli with reduced (n=20) and normal bone density (n=20), determined using Q-CT. The tilting moments for each cup were determined five times in the group with reduced bone density and five times in the group with normal bone density, and the respective average values were calculated.

Results

The mean maximum extrusion force of the threaded cup Zintra was 5670.5 N (max. tilting moment 141.8 Nm) in bone with normal density and.5748.3 N (max. tilting moment 143.7 Nm) in osteoporotic bone. For the Hofer Imhof (HI) threaded cup it was 7681.5 N (192.0 Nm) in bone with normal density and 6828.9 N (max. tilting moment 170.7 Nm) in the group with osteoporotic bone. The mean maximum extrusion force of the macro-textured press-fit cup Metallsockel CL was 3824.6 N (max. tilting moment 95.6 Nm) in bone with normal and 2246.2 N (max. tilting moment 56.2 Nm) in osteoporotic bone. For the Monoblock it was 1303.8 N (max. tilting moment 32.6 Nm) in normal and 1317 N (max. tilting moment 32.9 Nm) in osteoporotic bone. There was no significance. A reduction of the maximum tilting moment in osteoporotic bone of the ESKA press-fit cup Metallsockel CL was noticed.

Conclusion

Results on macerated bone specimens showed no statistically significant reduction of the maximum tilting moment in specimens with osteoporotic bone density compared to normal bone, neither for threaded nor for the press-fit cups. With the limitation that the results were obtained using macerated bone, we could not detect any restrictions for the clinical indication of the examined cementless cups in osteoporotic bone.

The effect of dorsal rim loss on the initial stability of the BioMedtrix cementless acetabular cup

Background

Loss of dorsal acetabular rim (DAR) is a common sequela to canine hip dysplasia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of DAR loss on the initial stability of the cementless (BFX) acetabular cup. BFX cups were implanted into foam blocks reamed to resemble acetabulae with simulated 0, 25, 50, and 75% DAR loss. Models were tested in edge loading of the lateral surface of the cup with an indenter, and in centered loading with an articulated femoral prosthesis. Additionally, cups were implanted into paired cadaveric canine hemipelves with either no DAR depletion, or removal of 50% of the DAR, and acutely loaded to failure with an articulated femoral prosthesis.

Results

Mean load measured at 1 mm cup displacement during edge loading was not significantly different in foam blocks with loss of 0, 25, 50, and 75% DAR (360 ± 124 N, 352 ± 42 N, 330 ± 81 N, 288 ± 43 N, respectively; P = 0.425). Mean load to failure with centered loads was greatest in blocks with 0% DAR loss (2828 ± 208 N; P < 0.001), but was not significantly different between 25, 50, and 75% DAR loss (2270 ± 301 N, 1924 ± 157 N, 1745 ± 118 N). In cadaveric testing, neither mean load to failure (P = 0.067), stiffness (P = 0.707), nor energy (P = 0.228) were significantly different in control hemipelves and those with 50% depletion of the DAR. Failure in all acetabulae occurred due to acetabular bone fracture at forces in supraphysiologic ranges.

Conclusions

BFX cup stability under normal physiologic loads does not appear to be compromised in acetabulae with up to 50% DAR loss.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Acetabular Cup Primary Stability by Impact Analysis

The implant primary stability of the acetabular cup (AC) is an important parameter for the surgical success of press-fit procedures used for the insertion of cementless hip prostheses. In previous studies by our group (Mathieu, V., Michel, A., Lachaniette, C. H. F., Poignard, A., Hernigou, P., Allain, J., and Haiat, G., 2013, “Variation of the Impact Duration During the in vitro Insertion of Acetabular Cup Implants,” Med. Eng. Phys., 35(11), pp. 1558–1563) and (Michel, A., Bosc, R., Mathieu, V., Hernigou, P., and Haiat, G., 2014, “Monitoring the Press-Fit Insertion of an Acetabular Cup by Impact Measurements: Influence of Bone Abrasion,” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part H, 228(10), pp. 1027–1034), the impact momentum and duration were shown to carry information on the press-fit insertion of the AC within bone tissue. The aim of the present study is to relate the impact momentum recorded during the AC insertion to the AC biomechanical primary stability. The experimental protocol consisted in testing 13 bovine bone samples that underwent successively series of 15 reproducible mass falls impacts (5 kg, 5 cm) followed by tangential stability testing. Each bone sample was tested with different hole sizes in order to obtain different stability configurations. The impact momentum and the tangential primary stability reach a maximum value for an interference fit equal to around 1 mm. Moreover, a correlation between the impact momentum and the stability was obtained with all samples and all configuration (R2 = 0.65). The implant primary stability can be assessed through the measurement of the impact force signal analysis. This study opens new paths for the development of a medical device which could be used as a decision support system to assist the surgeon during the insertion of the AC implant.

A novel method to assess primary stability of press-fit acetabular cups

Initial stability is an essential prerequisite to achieve osseointegration of press-fit acetabular cups in total hip replacements. Most in vitro methods that assess cup stability do not reproduce physiological loading conditions and use simplified acetabular models with a spherical cavity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bone density and acetabular geometry on cup stability using a novel method for measuring acetabular cup micromotion. A press-fit cup was inserted into Sawbones® foam blocks having different densities to simulate normal and osteoporotic bone variations and different acetabular geometries. The stability of the cup was assessed in two ways: (a) measurement of micromotion of the cup in 6 degrees of freedom under physiological loading and (b) uniaxial push-out tests. The results indicate that changes in bone substrate density and acetabular geometry affect the stability of press-fit acetabular cups. They also suggest that cups implanted into weaker, for example, osteoporotic, bone are subjected to higher levels of micromotion and are therefore more prone to loosening. The decrease in stability of the cup in the physiological model suggests that using simplified spherical cavities to model the acetabulum over-estimates the initial stability of press-fit cups. This novel testing method should provide the basis for a more representative protocol for future pre-clinical evaluation of new acetabular cup designs.

Polyaxial locking and compression screws improve construct stiffness of acetabular cup fixation: a biomechanical study

Bone ingrowth into uncemented acetabular components requires intimate cup-bone contact and rigid fixation, which can be difficult to achieve in revision hip arthroplasty. This study compares polyaxial compression locking screws with non-locked and cancellous screw constructs for acetabular cup fixation. An acetabular cup modified with screw holes to provide both compression and angular stability was implanted into a bone substitute. Coronal lever out, axial torsion and push-out tests were performed with an Instron testing machine, measuring load versus displacement. Polyaxial locking compression screws significantly improved construct stiffness compared with non-locked or cancellous screws. This increased construct stiffness will likely reduce interfacial micromotion. Further research is required to determine whether this will improve bone ingrowth in vivo and reduce cup failure.

Primary stability of two uncementedacetabular components of different geometry: hemispherical or peripherallyenhanced?

Objective

This study compared the primary stability of two commercially available acetabular components from the same manufacturer, which differ only in geometry; a hemispherical and a peripherally enhanced design (peripheral self-locking (PSL)). The objective was to determine whether altered geometry resulted in better primary stability.

Methods

Acetabular components were seated with 0.8 mm to 2 mm interference fits in reamed polyethylene bone substrate of two different densities (0.22 g/cm³ and 0.45 g/cm³). The primary stability of each component design was investigated by measuring the peak failure load during uniaxial pull-out and tangential lever-out tests.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in seating force (p = 0.104) or primary stability (pull-out p = 0.171, lever-out p = 0.087) of the two components in the low-density substrate. Similarly, in the high-density substrate, there was no statistically significant difference in the peak pull-out force (p = 0.154) or lever-out moment (p = 0.574) between the designs. However, the PSL component required a significantly higher seating force than the hemispherical cup in the high-density bone analogue (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

Higher seating forces associated with the PSL design may result in inadequate seating and increased risk of component malpositioning or acetabular fracture in the intra-operative setting in high-density bone stock. Our results, if translated clinically, suggest that a purely hemispherical geometry may have an advantage over a peripherally enhanced geometry in high density bone stock.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2013;2:264–9.

Effect of design on the initial stability of press-fit cups in the presence of acetabular rim defects: experimental evaluation of the effect of adding circumferential fins

PURPOSE

This experimental study was undertaken to examine the fixation characteristics of a six-finned acetabular cup in both primary and revision arthroplasty in comparison with two other commonly used cup designs without fins.

METHODS

All three cup designs (Ananova® [Intraplant], Plasmacup® NSC [Aesculap]; Exceed ABT™ [Biomet]) were implanted into validated models of normal and revision acetabula. The defect models were designed to simulate a dorso-cranial rim defect of 90° width and 10 mm in depth (moderate rim defect) and a dorso-cranial rim defect of 130° width and 15 mm in depth (severe rim defect). The fixation strength of the three cup designs was tested by cyclically edge-loading the implanted cups using a mechanical testing machine.

RESULTS

The six-finned Ananova implant exhibited greater resistance to foam-cup interface motion than both the Plasmacup and Exceed ABT implants. The largest average differences were observed in the resistance to ultimate spin-out, with Ananova outperforming Exceed ABT and Plasmacup by 26% and 17% in the moderate and by 36% and 38% in the severe defect models, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The six-finned Ananova cup was significantly more resistant to edge loading both in the normal acetabulum and in acetabula with moderate to severe dorso-cranial rim defects than cup designs without fins, indicating that it may cover a wider range of clinical indications than conventional press-fit cups and provide clinicians with the confidence that, in primary and simple revision arthroplasty, adequate fixation strength can be obtained.

Validation of FE micromotions and strains around a press-fit cup: introducing a new micromotion measuring technique

Finite element (FE) analysis provides an useful tool with which to analyze the potential performance of implantations in a variety of surgical, patient and design scenarios. To enable the use of FE analysis in the investigation of such implants, models must be experimentally validated. Validation of a pelvic model with an implanted press-fit cup in terms of micromotion and strain is presented here. A new method of micromotion has been introduced to better describe the overall movement of the cup within the pelvis. The method uses a digitizing arm to monitor the relative movement between markers on the cup and the surrounding acetabulum. FE analysis was used to replicate an experimental set up using a synthetic hemi-pelvis with a press-fitted all-metal cup, subject to the maximum loading observed during normal walking. The work presented here has confirmed the ability of FE models to accurately describe the mechanical performance of the press-fitted acetabulum and surrounding bone under typical loading conditions in terms of micromotion and strain distribution, but has demonstrated limitations in its ability to predict numerical micromotion values. A promising digitizing technique for measuring acetabular micromotions has also been introduced.

A Powered Technique for Inserting Acetabular Cups

This work focused to investigate the use of a powered automatic technique to insert acetabular cup implants. The use of a percussion hammer tool as a surgical instrument to insert acetabular cup implants was investigated in current work. Pull-out, lever-out and torque tests were carried out on cup implants inserted into test block specimens of polyurethane (PU) using specifically designed experimental setups as a means of comparing the current mallet and cup introducer (manual impaction) technique against the percussion hammer tool (powered impaction) technique. The experimental tests were based on calculating the maximum forces or moments of forces required to remove the cup implants from a test block specimen, which was representative of the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. It was found, the cup implants inserted using the powered impaction technique required a greater applied force, moment of force and torque in order to remove the cup from the cavity of the PU block specimen in the pull-out, lever-out and torque tests respectively. In terms of stability, the percussion hammer tool has the potential to improve the seating of cup implants within the cavity using a more precise and controlled technique, thus improving the over stability of the inserted cup implant.

Deformation of 1-piece metal acetabular components

The success of metal bearings is dependent on several parameters. The effects of in vivo forces on the deformation of monoblock acetabular components have yet to be determined. The purpose of our study was to assess the amount of deformation with press-fit fixation of 1-piece metal acetabular components. Four manufacturers provided 1-piece metal acetabular components in each size (30 cups). Testing was conducted using a custom vise to simulate press-fit fixation, and measurements were performed with a Mitutoyo Test device (Aurora, Ill). Previously determined in vivo forces were used in the press-fit simulation. All components deformed under simulated in vivo applied loads. Component deformation ranged from 15 to 300 µm. Larger cups with thinner walls to accommodate larger heads had the greatest deformation and often exceeded the range of reported clearances from the manufacturers (76-227 µm).

Does an enhanced surface finish improve acetabular fixation in revision total hip arthroplasty?

High-porosity "cancellous metal" coatings have been introduced to increase the fixation and biologic incorporation of acetabular cups. The strength of initial fixation provided by a cancellous metal cups vs conventional alternatives in the deficient revision acetabulum was investigated. Cancellous, plasma-sprayed, and beaded cups (n = 9) were implanted under controlled conditions into a validated model of the revision acetabulum. The greatest differences were seen in resistance to catastrophic (spin-out) failure that, for the cancellous shell, averaged 1076 ± 265 N, which was 25% greater than the plasma-sprayed implant (859 ± 214 N, P = .04) and 218% greater than the beaded implant (338 ± 123 N, P < .01). The cancellous coating also provided greater resistance to ultimate failure. These results suggest that these new cancellous metal coatings may represent a promising alternative for fixation in revision total hip arthroplasty.

Effects of screw eccentricity on the initial stability of the acetabular cup in artificial foam bone of different qualities

Acetabular cup loosening is one of the major failure models of total hip replacement (THR), which is mostly due to insufficient initial stability of the cup. Previous studies have demonstrated that cup stability is affected by the quality of the host bone and the surgical skill when inserting screws. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects on the initial stability of the acetabular cup of eccentric screws in bone of different qualities. In this study, hemispherical cups were fixed into bone specimens constructed from artificial foam with three elastic moduli using one to three screws. The effects of two types of screw eccentricity (offset and angular) on the stability of the acetabular cup were also evaluated. The experimental results indicate that in the presence of ideal screwing, the cup was stable in bone specimens constructed from foam with the highest elastic modulus. In addition, increasing the number of ideal screws enhanced the cup stability, especially in bone specimens constructed from soft foam. Moreover, the cup stability was most affected by offset eccentric screw(s) in the hard-foam bone specimens and by angular eccentric screw(s) in the soft-foam bone specimens. The reported results indicate that the presence of screw eccentricity affects the initial stability of the acetabular cup. Surgeons should keep this in mind when performing screw insertions in THR. However, care is necessary when translating these results to the intraoperative situation due to the experiments being conducted under laboratory conditions, and hence, future studies should attempt to replicate the results reported here in vivo.

Midterm survivorship of a press-fit, plasma-sprayed, tri-spike acetabular component

Press-fit acetabular cups without screw holes can limit migration of particulate wear debris and reduce risk of acetabular osteolysis and device loosening. The Tri-Spike cup (Biomet, Inc, Warsaw, Ind) includes a titanium alloy plasma spray porous surface and does not require screw fixation. We retrospectively examined the incidence of cup loosening and acetabular osteolysis after implantation of 45 cups (44 patients) with mean follow-up of 7.3 years (range, 4-9 years). Only one patient (one cup) had evidence of less than 1 mm of retroacetabular radiolucency at 3 years (nonprogressive), which was found to remain firmly fixed during revision of the aseptically loosened femoral component. No cups were removed or revised at latest follow-up. Projected Kaplan-Meier survivorship at 9 years was 100% for cup loosening/revision and 97.8% for radiolucency.

Der Einfluss von Oberflächenmerkmalen auf die Primärstabilität einer zementfreien Hüftpfanne: eine mechanischeIn-vitro-Untersuchung / The influence of different surface treatments on the primary stability of cementless acetabular cups: anin vitrostudy

INTRODUCTION

Long-term stability of cementless acetabular cups depends on osseointegration, which requires primary stability of the implant. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different surface treatments on the primary stability of press-fit acetabular cups. Mechanical lever-out tests were performed to quantify the stability in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A hemispherical press-fit cup design with a flattened pole was used and different surface modifications were applied: smooth, corundum-blasted, titanium plasma spray, rough titan plasma spray, and titanium plasma spray with a rim. The outer diameter of all cups was kept constant. Polyurethane foam was selected as the test material and cup insertion was performed with a maximal force of 6000 N. The excess length between the cup and the surface of the foam blocks was measured. The maximum lever-out force was measured and the lever-out torque was calculated.

RESULTS

The excess length of cups with a smooth surface was significantly less (p<0.001) than for the other cups, with no significant differences among the other surface modifications. The lever-out torque for cups with a smooth surface was significantly less (p<0.001) than for the other cups, with no significant differences among the other surface modifications.

CONCLUSION

Only the cup with a smooth surface showed significant differences for excess length and lever-out torque. The other surface modifications exhibited the same stability. As long as a rough surface is chosen, cup design seems to have a greater influence on stability than surface modification. Although the study did not mimic real in vivo conditions and the lever-out-torques cannot be transferred to clinical situations, initial stability before bony ingrowth occurred could be clearly analysed.

Effects of screw eccentricity on the initial stability of the acetabular cup

One of the major failure modes of cementless acetabular components is the loosening of the acetabular cup, which is mostly attributable to insufficient initial stability. A hemispherical cup with a porous coating which is inserted with press-fit fixation and secured with several screws is one of the most widely used approaches. Many studies have found that bone screws are very helpful aids for cup fixation, but the optimal surgical technique for inserting screws has not been clearly reported. In this study, hemispherical cups were fixed into blocks of foam bone with zero to three screws. The effects of three types of screw eccentricity (a 1-mm offset and angular eccentricities of 15 degrees and 25 degrees ) on the initial stability of the acetabular cup were evaluated. The experimental results indicate that increasing the number of screws enhances the cup stability in the case of ideal screwing (i.e., with no eccentricity). An angular eccentricity of 15 degrees did not affect the cup stability for fixation with one or two screws. However, the presence of 25 degrees of angular eccentricity significantly reduced the stability of the cup, while 1 mm of offset eccentricity produced an even greater impact.

Deformation of press-fitted metallic resurfacing cups. Part 1: Experimental simulation

The interference press fit of a metallic one-piece acetabular cup employed for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing procedures was investigated experimentally under laboratory conditions in the present study, in particular regarding the cup deformation. Tests were carried out in cadavers as well as polyurethane foams of various grades with different elastic moduli to represent different cancellous bone qualities. The cadaver test was used to establish the most suitable configuration of the foam model representing realistic support and geometrical conditions at the pelvis. It was found that a spherical cavity, with two identical areas relieved on opposite sides, was capable of creating a two-point pinching action of the ischeal and ilial columns on the cup as the worst-case scenario. Furthermore, the cup deformation produced from such a two-point loading model with a grade 30 foam was similar to that measured from the cadaver test. Therefore, such a protocol was employed in subsequent experimental tests. For a given size of the outside diameter of the cup of 60 mm, the cup deflection was shown to be dependent largely on the cup wall thickness and the diametral interference between cup and prepared cavity at implantation. For a relatively thin cup with a wall thickness between 2.3 mm (equator) and 4 mm (pole) and with a modest nominal diametral interference of 1 mm, which corresponds to an actual interference of approximately 0.5 mm, the maximum diametral cup deflection (at the rim) was around 60 μm, compared with a diametral clearance of 80-120 μm between the femoral head and the acetabular cup, generally required for fluid-film lubrication and tribological performances. Stiffening of the cup, by both thickening and lateralizing by 1 mm, reduced the cup deformation to between 30 and 50 μm with actual diametral interferences between 0.5 and 1 mm.

Deformation of press-fitted metallic resurfacing cups. Part 2: Finite element simulation

The deformation of metallic acetabular cups employed for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing procedures was considered theoretically using the finite element method in the present study, following on the experimental investigation reported in Part 1. Three representative cups, characterized by the cup wall thickness as thin, intermediate, and thick, were considered. For the intermediate cup, the effects of both the size and the diametral interference on the cup deformation were investigated. Both two-dimensional axisymmetric and three-dimensional finite element models were developed to examine the important parameters during and after the press-fit procedure, and in particular the deformation of the metallic cup. The theoretical prediction of the cup deformation was in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental measurement reported in Part 1. The most significant factor influencing the cup deformation was the cup wall thickness. Both the size and the diametral interference were also shown to influence the cup deformation. It is important to ensure that the cup deformation does not significantly affect the clearance designed and optimized for tribological performances of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing prostheses. Furthermore the contact parameters at the cup and bone interface associated with the press fit were also discussed.

Effect of augmented cup fixation on stability, wear, and osteolysis: a 5-year follow-up of total hip arthroplasty with RSA

To evaluate different modes of cementless fixation of hemispherical cups, we operated on 87 hips in 81 patients using 4 different means of cup fixation. The hips were randomly assigned to fixation with press-fit technique only (PF), or with augmentation with screws (S), pegs (P), or hydroxyapatite (HA) coating. The patients were evaluated with radiostereometric analysis (RSA) for cup migration and wear, conventional radiography for osteolysis, and Harris Hip Score for clinical outcome over 5 years. The fixation of the cups did not differ between the groups, but HA showed a tendency to decrease proximal migration. HA-coated cups displayed the best interface with hardly any signs of radiolucent lines, indicating a superior sealing effect of the HA coating. Cups with screws or pegs had more radiolucent lines and osteolytic lesions than the other groups. Radiolucent lines were correlated to higher proximal migration, young age, and female gender (r2=.2). The wear rate of the ethylene oxide-sterilized polyethylene liner was high (0.2 mm/y) but did not differ between the groups. Two cups with a perioperative fracture of the acetabular rim showed large initial migration but stabilized thereafter.