Polymer-on-metal or metal-on-polymer total disc arthroplasty: does it make a difference?

Study Design: Mechanical testing of total disc arthroplasty (TDA).

Objective: To compare the friction between a polymer socket-on-metal ball and metal socket-on-polymer ball TDA.

Summary Of Background Data: A degenerate intervertebral disc can be replaced by TDA.

Effect of axial load on the flexural properties of an elastomeric total disc replacement.

Study Design: Twelve Cadisc-L devices were subjected to flexion (0°-6°) and extension (0° to -3°) motions at compressive loads between 500 N and 2000 N at a flexural rate between 0.25°/s and 3.0°/s.