The production and biology of polyethylene wear debris (original) (raw)

Summary

Polyethylene in the form of a concave bearing surface at the hip wears very slowly, and clinical and histological evidence suggests that the volume of debris so released is well tolerated.

However, significantly greater, volumetric wear rates are produced when (1) polyethylene is used as the convex component of a joint and (2) abrasives such as PMMA or bone enter the joint. Further, large quantities of polyethylene debris lead to the replacement of bone at the bone-cement interface by soft tissue.

Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that this mechanism can produce joint component loosening.

Zusammenfassung

Polyäthylen in Form einer konkaven Trageoberfläche an der Hüfte nutzt sich sehr langsam ab. Der klinische und histologische Befund zeigt, daß das Ausmaß der so entstandenen Abnutzung durchaus tolerabel ist.

Es kommt jedoch eine weft höhere Abnutzungsrate zustande, wenn Polyäthylen (1) für den konvexen Bestandteil eines Gelenkes benutzt wird und (2) Schleifmittel wie PMMA oder Knochen in das Gelenk gelangen. Außerdem führen große Mengen polyäthylener Abschürfungen dazu, daß der Knochen in der knochenzementigen. Zwischenfläche durch Weichgewebe ersetzt wird.

Der hier gelieferte Befund unterstreicht stark, daß dieser Mechanismus die Auflösung der Gelenkkomponenten zur Folge haben kann.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. London Hospital and the Biomechanics Unit at Imperial College, El lBB, London, UK
    P. A. Revell, B. Weightman, M. A. R. Freeman & B. Vernon Roberts

Authors

  1. P. A. Revell
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  2. B. Weightman
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  3. M. A. R. Freeman
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  4. B. Vernon Roberts
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Revell, P.A., Weightman, B., Freeman, M.A.R. et al. The production and biology of polyethylene wear debris.Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 91, 167–181 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379748

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