In Vivo Oxidation and Wear in Remelted Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liners Retrieved at a Minimum of 10 Years After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: With the decreasing age threshold for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is an escalating demand for enhanced polyethylene durability. Although reports assessing wear in remelted highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) through radiographic imaging exist, a consensus regarding its oxidation level is lacking. This study investigated the wear, oxidation levels, and degradation of remelted HXLPE that was retrieved at least 10 years after THA.

Methods: Our analysis focused on 7 cases of melted HXLPE liners retrieved ≥10 years after THA. All patients were women, who had an average age of 64 ± 6.5 years at the initial operation, and the mean postoperative period after THA was 12 years and 11 months ±1 year and 5 months. The wear conditions were measured by matching the shape analysis data obtained from a coordinate-measuring machine with a spherical model. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the oxidation of polyethylene, and the polyethylene structure was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy.

Results: Osteolysis was not observed in any case on X-rays, computed tomography, or intraoperative findings during revision surgery. The average oxidation index (OI) of the sliding surface under load was 0.31 ± 0.22 in the 6 cases calculated after hexane treatment, and 0.69 for one case without hexane treatment. In the 6 cases calculated after hexane treatment, the average OI of the non-load-bearing sliding surface was 0.11 ± 0.20. Average wear values were 0.33 ± 0.11 mm at 45 degrees from the equatorial direction and 0.04 ± 0.07 mm in the opposite direction. The initial structure of the polyethylene was preserved at all sites with low oxidation levels; however, in one case with stem subsidence, morphological changes and a high OI were observed.

Conclusions: Long-term oxidation and wear of remelted HXLPE liners retrieved from THA patients were minimal.