Insights into the present and future of cartilage regeneration and joint repair.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease. It causes pain and suffering for affected patients and is the source of major economic costs for healthcare systems. Despite ongoing research, there is a lack of knowledge regarding disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and possible cures.

The effect of conformity, thickness, and material on stresses in ultra-high molecular weight components for total joint replacement.

Debris resulting from damage to the surface of polyethylene components of total joint replacements has previously been shown to contribute to long-term problems such as loosening and infection. Surface damage has been associated with fatigue processes due to stresses arising from contact between the metal and polyethylene components in these prostheses. In the present study, we used elasticity and finite-element solutions to determine these stresses for total hip replacements with head diameters of twenty-two and twenty-eight millimeters and for a condylar total knee replacement.