Jim Nevelos

Wear of alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasties at a mean 11-year followup

The surface topography of 11 alumina-onalumina hip arthroplasties retrieved for aseptic loosening at a mean 11-year followup was investigated. Macroscopic wear was assessed using a coordinate measuring machine. Microscopic wear features were evaluated by Talysurf analysis. Scanning electron microscopy was used to look at the alumina microstructure. Components were classified into three groups: (1) low wear with no sign of wear and average arithmetic roughness values below 0.05 μm; (2) stripe wear with a visible oblong worn area on the femoral heads and penetration rates below 10 μm/year; and (3) severe wear with a visible loss of material on both components, showing total roughness values as much as 4 μm and maximum penetrations higher than 150 μm. Alumina quality assessed by grain size measurements and porosity percentages improved progressively from 1977 to 1988. This resulted in a correlated decrease of the microscopic wear magnitude. However, on a macroscopic scale, factors responsible for either a load increase (weight, young age, and male gender) or impairment in the load distribution over the component surfaces (large grain size, nonoptimal initial cup inclination, and cup migration and/or tilting) increased the penetration rates.

'Severe' wear challenge to 'as-cast' and 'double heat-treated' large-diameter metal-on-metal hip bearings.

Abstract The wear generation of double-heat-treated and as-cast large-diameter metal-on-metal (MOM) hip bearings was investigated using standard- and ‘severe’-gait simulations. The test hypothesis was that double heat treatment would change MOM hip wear compared with the as-cast condition. Two groups of high-carbon MOM bearings of 40 mm diameter were manufactured and subjected to either hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and solution annealing (SA) or no heat treatment (as cast). The results showed no statistical difference between the two groups under both running-in and steady state conditions. Even under the most ‘severe’-gait simulation published to date, the mean volumetric wear rates were 2.9 and 3.9 mm3 per 106 cycles for the HIP-SA and as-cast bearings respectively, showing a ten-fold increase in wear compared with walking. These differences were not statistically different; therefore our hypothesis was negated. Changes in alloy microstructure do not appear to influence the wear behaviour of high-carbon cast MOM articulations with similar chemical compositions. This is in sharp contrast with the published significance of bearing diameter and radial clearance on the wear of MOM hip bearings.

Wear Performance Evaluation of a Contemporary Dual Mobility Hip Bearing Using Multiple Hip Simulator Testing Conditions

The dual mobility hip bearing concept combines a small bearing with a large diameter bearing through a dual articulation system, potentially increasing the stability of the hip. Bearings with two articulations introduce concerns of whether or not wear might be increased compared to a conventional bearing. We therefore evaluated the wear performance of a dual mobility hip bearing using sequentially cross-linked and annealed polyethylene under the conditions of impingement, abrasion, and when the mobile liner becomes immobilized at either the inner or outer diameter. We found the wear performance of this dual mobility hip is dictated by the conditions experienced by the smaller inner articulation and by the polyethylene material. The highest wearing group wore 75% less than a single articulating conventional gamma/inert polyethylene bearing.

Dual mobility bearings withstand loading from steeper cup‐inclinations without substantial wear

Steep cup abduction angles with adverse joint loading may increase traditional polyethylene bearing wear in total hip arthroplasties. However, there have been few reports evaluating the effect of cup inclination on the wear of dual‐mobility devices. In a hip joint simulation, we compared the short‐term wear of two‐sizes of modular highly cross‐linked dual‐mobility bearings (28 mm femoral head diameter/42 mm polyethylene insert outer diameter/54 mm acetabular shell diameter; 22.2 mm femoral head diameter/36 mm polyethylene insert outer diameter/48 mm acetabular shell diameter) at 50 and 65° of cup inclination with modular 28 mm femoral head on 54 mm cup diameter metal‐on‐highly cross‐linked polyethylene bearings. Increasing inclination from 50–65° had no changes in volumetric wear of 28/42/54 mm (mean, 1.7 vs. 1.2 mm3/million cycles, respectively; p = 0.50) and 22.2/36/48 mm (mean, 1.7 vs. 1.2 mm3/million cycles, respectively; p = 0.48) dual mobility bearings. At 65°, 22.2/36/48 mm dual‐mobility bearings had lower volumetric loss (mean, 2.2 vs. 6.3 mm3; p = 0.03) and wear rates (mean, 1.2 vs. 2.7 mm3/million cycles; p = 0.02) compared to metal‐on‐highly cross‐linked polyethylene bearings. Modern‐generation dual‐mobility designs with highly cross‐linked polyethylenes may potentially withstand edge‐loading from steeper cup‐inclinations without substantial decreases in wear.

Development and verification of a cementless novel tapered wedge stem for total hip arthroplasty.

Most current tapered wedge hip stems were designed based upon the original Mueller straight stem design introduced in 1977. These stems were designed to have a single medial curvature and grew laterally to accommodate different sizes. In this preclinical study, the design and verification of a tapered wedge stem using computed tomography scans of 556 patients are presented. The computer simulation demonstrated that the novel stem, designed for proximal engagement, allowed for reduced distal fixation, particularly in the 40-60 year male population. Moreover, the physical micromotion testing and finite element analysis demonstrated that the novel stem allowed for reduced micromotion. In summary, preclinical data suggest that the computed tomography based stem design described here may offer enhanced implant fit and reduced micromotion.

What Factors Affect Posterior Dislocation Distance in THA

BackgroundDislocation remains common after total hip arthroplasty. Efforts have been made to identify and minimize risk factors. One such factor, jump distance, or the distance the femoral head must travel before dislocating, has been poorly characterized with respect to three-dimensional kinematics.Questions/purposesWe therefore determined: (1) the three-dimensional stability of four different component designs; (2) whether the degree of abduction and anteversion affects the stability; (3) whether pelvic inclination angles affected stability; and (4) which combination of these three factors had the greatest stability.MethodsWe created a positionable three-dimensional model of a THA. Acetabular components were modeled in various abduction and anteversion angles and in two different pelvic inclinations which simulate standing and chair-rising activities.ResultsThe posterior horizontal dislocation distance increased as inclination angle and femoral head size increased. The 48-mm resurfacing typically had lower jump distances and was at risk of posterior edge loading at 30° inclination. The highest jump distance for all positions and activities occurred with the dual-mobility bearing.ConclusionThese findings suggest that monoblock cups require extremely accurate positioning for low dislocation risk and that pelvic orientation may increase dislocation risks.Clinical RelevanceAs a result of the dual-mobility designs having the greatest resistance to dislocation, these cups may be appropriate for patients who are at risk for dislocation in difficult primary situations and in revision hip arthroplasty procedures in which proper component orientation may be less likely to be achieved.

Does Dual-mobility Cup Geometry Affect Posterior Horizontal Dislocation Distance?

BackgroundDual-mobility acetabular cups have been marketed with the purported advantages of reduced dislocation rates and improvements in ROM; however, the relative efficacies of these designs in terms of changing joint stability via ROM and dislocation distance have not been thoroughly evaluated.Questions/purposesIn custom computer simulation studies, we addressed the following questions: (1) Do variations in component geometry across dual-mobility designs (anatomic, modular, and subhemispheric) affect the posterior horizontal dislocation distances? (2) How do these compare with the measurements obtained with standard hemispheric fixed bearings? (3) What is the effect of head size on posterior horizontal dislocation distances for dual-mobility and standard hemispheric fixed bearings? (4) What are the comparative differences in prosthetic impingement-free ROM between three modern dual-mobility components (anatomic, modular, and subhemispheric), and standard hemispheric fixed bearings?MethodsCT scans of an adult pelvis were imported into computer-aided design software to generate a dynamic three-dimensional model of the pelvis. Using this software, computer-aided design models of three dual-mobility designs (anatomic, modular, and subhemispheric) and standard hemispheric fixed bearings were implanted in the pelvic model and the posterior horizontal dislocation distances measured. Hip ROM simulator software was used to compare the prosthetic impingement-free ROMs of dual-mobility bearings with standard hemispheric fixed-bearing designs.ResultsVariations in component design had greater effect on posterior horizontal dislocation distance values than increases in head size in a specific design (p < 0.001). Anatomic and modular dual-mobility designs were found to have greater posterior horizontal dislocation distances than the subhemispheric dual-mobility and standard hemispheric fixed-bearing designs (p < 0.001). Increasing head sizes increased posterior horizontal dislocation distances across all designs (p < 0.001). The subhemispheric dual-mobility implant was found to have the greatest prosthetic impingement-free ROM among all prosthetic designs (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.86).ConclusionsThe posterior horizontal dislocation distances differ with the individual component geometries of dual-mobility designs, with the anatomic and modular designs showing higher posterior horizontal dislocation distances compared with subhemispheric dual-mobility and standard hemispheric fixed-bearing designs.Clinical RelevanceStatic, three-dimensional computerized simulation studies suggest differences that may influence the risk of dislocation among components with varying geometries, favoring anatomic and modular dual-mobility designs. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these observations.

Comparing the Accuracy of Radiographic Preoperative Digital Templating for a Second- Versus a First-generation THA Stem

This study assessed the accuracy of preoperative digital templating for a second-generation cementless stem compared with its first-generation design. A prospective cohort of 100 consecutive patients who had undergone a primary total hip arthroplasty using a new second-generation cementless stem was compared with the prior 100 hips that had received the first-generation stem. The authors believe that the second-generation stem may allow equal or more accurate digital templating compared with its predicate design.

Relative Head Size Increase Using an Anatomic Dual Mobility Hip Prosthesis Compared to Traditional Hip Arthroplasty: Impact on Hip Stability

Smaller head sizes and head/cup ratios make cups smaller than 50mm and larger than 58mm, more prone to dislocation. Using computer modeling, we compared average head sizes and posterior horizontal dislocation distance (PHDD) in two 78-patient matched cohorts. Cup sizes were small (≤50mm) or large (≥58mm). The control cohort had conventional fixed bearing prostheses, while the experimental cohort had anatomical dual mobility (ADM) hip prostheses. ADM cups have larger average head sizes and PHDD than traditional fixed bearing prostheses by 11.5mm and 80% for cups ≤50mm, and 16.3mm and 90% for cups ≥58mm. Larger head sizes and increased head/cup ratio may allow the ADM prosthesis to reduce the incidence of dislocation.

Evaluation of surgical impaction technique and how it affects locking strength of the head–stem taper junction

Cases of fretting and corrosion at the taper junction have been reported in large metal-on-metal bearing combinations, and more recently, this concern has included metal-on-polyethylene bearing combinations. Many of these patients have been revised due to adverse local tissue reaction secondary to taper corrosion. This taper corrosion–related adverse local tissue reaction seems to be a multifactorial issue and difficult to assess. The aim of this study was to look at one potential variable, the impaction behavior (impaction force, number of blows, etc.) of orthopedic surgeons, and understand how this can affect the locking strength of tapers. A group of experienced orthopedic surgeons were asked to use their typical surgical approach to impact a femoral head onto a hip femoral stem using an Operating Room (OR)-simulated test setup. Impaction parameters such as impaction force, velocity, and energy, as well as the number of impacts, were characterized and applied in a bench-top study used to evaluate the effect of these parameters on the initial stability of the taper junction. High variation was found in the surgical impaction parameters, but overall it was determined that increased impaction force correlated to superior stability of the taper junction.