Premium
Change in UHMWPE properties of retrieved ceramic total knee prosthesis in clinical use for 23 years
Author(s) -
Oonishi Hironobu,
Kim Sok Chol,
Kyomoto Masayuki,
Masuda Shingo,
Asano Taiyo,
Clarke Ian C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.30273
Subject(s) - materials science , prosthesis , ceramic , composite material , total knee arthroplasty , alumina ceramic , polyethylene , knee prosthesis , biomedical engineering , surgery , medicine
The alumina–ceramic total knee prosthesis developed by Kyocera Corp. was implanted in 1979, and was in clinical use for 23 years until total knee arthroplasty revision surgery in January 2002. It is believed that this is the longest clinical period of a ceramic total knee prosthesis reported to date in the world. In the present study, we gave consideration to the long‐term clinical stability of the alumina–ceramic femoral component as well as the mechanism of in vivo degradation of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) based on the evaluated wear, oxidation, and fracture toughness of the retrieved UHMWPE. We concluded that the degradation of UHMWPE by progressive oxidation is an issue to be solved in the future. To moderate stress concentration, use of a thin UHMWPE insert should be avoided. The low wear rate and the mild wear pattern observed this time suggest the possibility of reduced wear of the UHMWPE against the alumina–ceramic femoral component, and the usefulness of the alumina–ceramic total knee prosthesis component was recognized even after long clinical use. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2005