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Enhanced wear and corrosion in modular tapers in total hip replacement is associated with the contact area and surface topography
Author(s) -
Panagiotidou Anna,
Meswania Jay,
Hua Jia,
MuirheadAllwood Sarah,
Hart Alister,
Blunn Gordon
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.22461
Subject(s) - corrosion , materials science , surface finish , surface roughness , modular design , head (geology) , metallurgy , contact area , total hip replacement , crevice corrosion , fretting , composite material , surgery , geology , medicine , geomorphology , computer science , operating system
Widespread concern exists about adverse tissue reactions after metal‐on‐metal (MoM) total hip replacement (THR). Concerns have also been expressed with wear and corrosion of taper junctions in THR. We report the effect of surface finish and contact area associated with a single combination of materials of modular tapers. In an in vitro test, we investigated the head/neck (CoCrMo/Ti) interface of modular THRs using commercially available heads. Wear and corrosion of taper surfaces was compared following a 10 million loading cycle. Surface parameters and profiles were measured before and after testing. Electrochemical static and dynamic corrosion tests were performed under loaded and non‐loaded conditions. After the load test, the surface roughness parameters on the head taper were significantly increased where the head/neck contact area was reduced. Similarly, the surface roughness parameters on the head taper were significantly increased where rough neck tapers were used. Corrosion testing showed breaching of the passive film on the rough but not the smooth neck tapers. Thus, surface area and surface finish are important factors in wear and corrosion at modular interfaces. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:2032–2039, 2013