Metal on Polyethylene in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Conventional gamma sterilization could induce substantial oxidative degradation during subsequent storage of the PE component in air and during their use in vivo. This oxidative degradation may induce high wear rates, delamination and/or gross fracture of the affected PE component. An improved understanding of the effects of cross-linking and oxidation on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has lead to the common use of oxygen-protected packing during radiation sterilization and shelf storage. More recently, methods to deliberately highly cross link UHMWPE while reducing the material’s potential to oxidize have been develop in the form of highly cross linked UHMWPE. We reviewed the manufacturing, sterilization, cross linking methods and clinical results of the new polyethylene.