MATING SURFACES IN HIP ARTHROPLASTY  CURRENT TRENDS IN MODERN HIP SURGERY TRENDS AND REAL INNOVATIONS IN THE 1° IMPLANT 

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2006 August;57(4):251-8

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Tribology of metal on metal bearings

Del Sasso L., Cavenago C., Marchese M., Romanò F.

Divisione di Ortopedia e Traumatologia Dipartimento delle Chirurgie Azienda Ospedaliera S. Anna, Como

Young and/or active candidates for hip arthroplasty pose a considerable challenge to the othopedic surgeon because they require durable bearings. To respond to this need, cross-linked polyethylene, ceramic on ceramic and metal on metal bearings have been developed. All represent a significant advance over previous prostheses, but each system has its advantages and disadvantages. We evaluated the tribologic and biologic features of latest generation metal on metal hip prostheses. The clinical advantage is that they are highly resistant to wear and have self-polishing surfaces, but the long-term biologic effect of metal ions remains unknown.