Biomaterial Database

Wear of polyethylene in the total hip prosthesis. 1982

R M Rose, and E L Radin

Direct in vivo measurement of wear of total hip prostheses by radiography is not possible. However, improved in vitro approaches have been developed that agree with clinical observations in all salient points. Such measurements show that the wear of the polyethylene component depends crucially on the molecular weight distribution (and probably on other structural variables). Combined with clinical retrievals, there is evidence that relatively high wear may occur even in the absence of acrylic debris. Although sufficient knowledge exists to reduce wear of the total hip prosthesis to a negligible level, for the total knee replacement with higher contact stresses, presently, this is not the case.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D011095	Polyethylenes	Synthetic thermoplastics that are tough, flexible, inert, and resistant to chemicals and electrical current. They are often used as biocompatible materials for prostheses and implants.	Ethylene Polymers,Ethene Homopolymers,Homopolymers, Ethene,Polymers, Ethylene
D004868	Equipment Failure	Failure of equipment to perform to standard. The failure may be due to defects or improper use.	Defects, Equipment,Device Failure,Failure, Equipment,Malfunction, Equipment,Medical Device Failure,Misuse, Equipment,Device Failure, Medical,Device Failures, Medical,Failure, Medical Device,Failures, Medical Device,Defect, Equipment,Device Failures,Equipment Defect,Equipment Defects,Equipment Failures,Equipment Malfunction,Equipment Malfunctions,Equipment Misuse,Equipment Misuses,Failure, Device,Failures, Device,Failures, Equipment,Malfunctions, Equipment,Misuses, Equipment
D006622	Hip Prosthesis	Replacement for a hip joint.	Femoral Head Prosthesis,Femoral Head Prostheses,Hip Prostheses,Prostheses, Femoral Head,Prostheses, Hip,Prosthesis, Femoral Head,Prosthesis, Hip
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013314	Stress, Mechanical	A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area.	Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical