Clinical and radiographic outcomes of total hip replacement with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)-grafted highly cross-linked polyethylene liners: three-year results of a prospective consecutive series.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and wear-resistance of the novel highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) acetabular liner with surface grafting of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) at 3 years after total hip replacement (THR).

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients underwent cementless THR using a 26-mm diameter cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy femoral head and a PMPC-grafted HXLPE liner for the bearing couplings. We evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 76 patients at 3 years after the index surgery.

Results: The clinical results at 3 years were equivalent to a Harris hip score of 95.6 points. No adverse events were associated with the implanted PMPC-grafted HXLPE liner, and no periprosthetic osteolysis was detected. The mean femoral head penetration rate was 0.002 mm/year, representing marked reduction compared with other HXLPE liners.

Conclusions: A PMPC-grafted HXLPE liner is a safe option in THR and probably reduces the generation of wear particles.