The Influence of Head Diameter, Clearance, Cup Position, and Head Position on Wear Rates in Metal-on-Metal Resurfacing
Presented at the 2nd Annual Total Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty Course in LA Oct. 2008 By: John Fisher Co-Authors: Ian Leslie, Sophie Williams, Eileen Ingham, Graham Isaac Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering University of Leeds Background: There are considerable variations in metal ion levels and metallic wear rates in patients with metal on metal resurfacing. In this in vitro study the effect of design variables of head diameter and bearing clearance and patient variables of cup and head position on metal ion levels and wear rates are were investigated. Methods: Hip joint simulator studies were carried out on size 39mm and size 55mm metal on metal resurfacing with the same design. Size 55mm diameter bearings with 110 micrometer diametrical clearance were compared to size 54mm diameter with larger >250 micrometer diametrical clearance. The wear rates of size 39mm bearings with a standard cup position of 45 degrees, were compared to a steep cup position of 60 degrees and to a steep cup position combined with micro separation associated with head offset deficiency. Results: Initial bedding in wear rates and ion levels were higher with size 39mm bearings compared to size 55mm, but in long term after 15 million cycles there was no difference in the steady state wear rates. Bearings with the larger diametrical clearance had higher initial wear and steady state wear rates at five million cycles. Cup position and head position resulted in much greater increases in wear. For the 39 mm bearings, a 60 degree cup position resulted in a 9 fold increase in wear. A steep cup and microseparation resulted in a 17 fold increase in wear after two million cycles and a 39 fold increase in wear compared to the long term steady state wear rate. Conclusions: The study confirmed clinical ion level studies of increased wear with larger clearance bearings. The results also confirm clinical ion level measurements that steep cup angles can substantially increases wear. The study also indicates that offset deficiency and microseparation may be responsible for extremely high wear rates and ion levels found in some retrievals and some patients. Further work is needed to investigate effect of different head sizes with steep cups and microseparation and the effect of version. |