Wear Debris Size From Hip Simulator Affected Beneficially By Molded UHMWPE Process

摘要

It is well documented that wear debris from UHMWPE cups can create implant failure by means of a foreign-body reaction. Due to technological changes, it is imperative that each modification is documented and its effects on the wear process understood. The new fabrication and processing methods should be at least as good, if not better than historical methods. Studies indicated that isostatically molded UHMWPE powder in an argon atmosphere, and sterilizing under argon improved wear resistance. The effect of the particle size and shape of the wear debris has not been reported for this material to date. Our study evaluated the characteristics of the wear debris from cups produced by four processing methods: 1) Extruded GUR 415, non-sterile (Ext), 2) Extruded GUR 415 sterilized with 3Mrad in argon (ExtGamma), 3) Direct compression molded 1900H sterilized with 3Mrad in argon (DCM), and 4) isostatically molded 1900H sterilized with 3Mrad in argon (Arcom).