Analysis of Retrieved Uncemented Porous-Coated Acetabular Components in Patients With and Without Pelvic Osteolysis

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Abstract
Retrieved polyethylene liners and femoral heads from a consecutive series of revision components of one design were examined. All patients had Long-Term Stable Fixation (OsteoTechnology International, Timonium, Md) total hip arthroplasties (THAs) implanted between 1987 and 1992. The retrieved femoral heads and liners from patients with osteolysis were compared to those without osteolysis. Patients with osteolysis had significantly thinner polyethylene (5.1 mm versus 7.4 mm, P<.01 ) and a higher linear wear rate (0.5 mm/y versus 0.3 mm/y, P=.05). The average femoral head surface roughness also was significantly greater in patients with osteolysis (67 nm versus 35 nm, P<.05). Patients with osteolysis had more total volumetric wear, total linear wear, and volumetric wear rate compared to patients without osteolysis. Age, obesity index, time in situ, and cup inclination were not different between the two groups. Excessive polyethylene wear, probably accelerated by surface roughness of the femoral heads, was associated with pelvic osteolysis in these patients.