Limit Wear, Not Options

Patient longevity and active lifestyle have led to an increase in the physical demands placed upon THA bearing surfaces. As a result, implant manufacturers are continuing to search for ways to improve performance of these bearing surfaces and have introduced several products to help address the issue.

As with any bearing surface, the primary concern for orthopaedic surgeons is wear and the impact that wear debris has on THA. Although the vast majority of total hip arthroplasties are successful, in the small amount that do fail, literature reports osteolysis as a primary limiter of implant service life.1-4

A key goal for the orthopaedic surgeon is to reduce wear; thereby reducing a potential source  of osteolysis. As a result, a great deal of activity and interest is centered on alternative bearing surfaces as contemporary solutions for addressing wear. 5-7  Alternative bearing materials are defined as such by their potentially lower wear rates. The “alternative” in “alternative bearing” refers to an alternative to conventional polyethylene (UHWMPE).

If alternative bearing surfaces provide an alternative to conventional polyethylene and deliver a less than 0.1mm/Mc wear debris rate, Longevity® Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene certainly meets the criteria.

 Linear Wear Chart 8

Longevity is designed to limit wear, not the surgeon’s intraoperative options.

To learn more about alternative bearing solutions and Longevity, view a PDF of our brochure or download a copy to print.

Reference

  1. Charnley J. Rate of wear in total hip replacements. Clin Orthop. 1975; 112-171.
  2. Wroblewski BM, Siney PD. Charnley low-friction arthroplasty of the hip. Clin Orthop. 1993;291: 191-201.
  3. Goldring SR, Clark CR, Wright TM. The problem in total joint arthroplasty: Aseptic loosening. J Bone Joint Surg. 1993;(75)A:799-801.
  4. Harris WH. The problem is osteolysis.Clin Orthop Rel Res. 1995;311:46-53.
  5. Mahoney OM, Dimon JH. Unsatisfactory results with a ceramic total hip prosthesis. J Bone Joint Surg. 1990;(72)A:663-671.
  6. Charnley J. Low friction principles: Low friction arthroplasty of the hip. 1979;(1):6.
  7. Data on file at Zimmer, Inc.
  8. Fisher J, Besong AA, Firkins PJ, et al. Comparative wear and debris generation in UHMWPE on ceramic-on-ceramic, metal-on-metal, and ceramic-on-metal hip prosthesis. 46th Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Research Society, March 12-15, 2000.

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