Does metal transfer differ on retrieved Biolox (R) Delta composites femoral heads? Surface investigation on three Biolox (R) generations from a biotribological point of view

摘要

Background: Currently, little is known about the effects that metal transfer affecting hip implants may have on roughness. The main aim of this study is to propose a metrological technique in order to better characterize this phenomenon on the surface of composite ceramic femoral heads, discussing its influence on the biotribological behaviour of the coupling. In addition, through the acquired data, we investigate whether the metal transfer extension and roughness alterations on a femoral head is correlated to the material, the follow-up of the implant and whether metal transfer is associated with changes in the roughness of alumina surface, considering different follow-ups.