Evaluation of Aerosol Electrospray Analysis of Metal-on-Metal Wear Particles from Simulated Total Joint Replacement.

Wear is a common cause for aseptic loosening in artificial joints. The purpose of this study was to develop an automated diagnostical method for identification of the number and size distribution of wear debris. For this purpose, metal debris samples were extracted from a hip simulator and then analyzed by the electrospray method combined with a differential mobility analyzer, allowing particle detection ranging from several nanometers up to 1 µm.

A cementless hip system with a new surface for osseous integration.

Purpose: The failure of total hip systems caused by wear-particle-induced loosening has focused interest on factors potentially affecting wear rate. Remnants of the blasting material were reported on grit-blasted surfaces for cementless fixation. These particles are believed to cause third-body wear and implant loosening.

Contamination of surfaces for osseointegration of cementless total hip implants by small aluminium oxide particles: analysis of established implants by use of a new technique.

Background: The failure of total hip replacements because of wear, particle-induced osteolysis, and aseptic loosening has focussed interest on factors potentially affecting the rate of wear. In this context the effect of particle release from the bone-implant interface of cementless implants is poorly understood. The surface structure for bony ongrowth of many cementless implants is created by grit-blasting.

Postmortem study of femoral osteolysis associated with metal-on-metal articulation in total hip replacement: an analysis of nine cases.

Background: Improved metal-on-metal articulations were reintroduced in total hip replacement to avoid the osteolysis sometimes seen with conventional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bearings. Osteolysis and local lymphocytic infiltration have been reported at revision of some metal-on-metal devices. We report similar and additional results in a study of second-generation metal-on-metal hip implants retrieved post mortem.

Presence of corrosion products and hypersensitivity-associated reactions in periprosthetic tissue after aseptic loosening of total hip replacements with metal bearing surfaces.

Aseptic loosening of articular implants is frequently associated with tissue reactions to wear particles. Some patients, who had received metal-on-metal articulations, present early symptoms including persistent pain and implant failure. These symptoms raise the suspicion about the development of an immunological response.

Characterization, quantification, and isolation of aluminum oxide particles on grit blasted titanium aluminum alloy hip implants.

Background: This study was undertaken to verify whether or not the microstructure of aluminum alloy implants interferes with the characterization and quantification of aluminum inclusions on their surfaces, resulting from grit blasting.

Methods: Four factory-fresh prostheses were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Specimens were cut out of the stems and the cross-sections analyzed.

Retrieval study of uncemented metal-metal hip prostheses revised for early loosening.

A tribologic assessment was performed on 22 metal-metal hip prostheses from a single manufacturer, following removal for early aseptic loosening after a mean service life of 32 months (range, 12-59 months). The mean linear wear rate was 7.6 microm/year (range, 2.