A simulator study of adverse wear with metal and cement debris contamination in metal-on-metal hip bearings

T. Halim, I. C. Clarke, M. D. Burgett-Moreno, T. K. Donaldson, C. Savisaar, J. G. Bowsher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Third-body wear is believed to be one trigger for adverse results with metal-on-metal (MOM) bearings. Impingement and subluxation may release metal particles from MOM replacements. We therefore challenged MOM bearings with relevant debris types of cobalt-chrome alloy (CoCr), titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) and polymethylmethacrylate bone cement (PMMA). Methods: Cement flakes (PMMA), CoCr and Ti6Al4V particles (size range 5 μm to 400 μm) were run in a MOM wear simulation. Debris allotments (5 mg) were inserted at ten intervals during the five million cycle (5 Mc) test. Results: In a clean test phase (0 Mc to 0.8 Mc), lubricants retained their yellow colour. Addition of metal particles at 0.8 Mc turned lubricants black within the first hour of the test and remained so for the duration, while PMMA particles did not change the colour of the lubricant. Rates of wear with PMMA, CoCr and Ti6Al4V debris averaged 0.3 mm3/Mc, 4.1 mm3/Mc and 6.4 mm3/Mc, respectively. Conclusions: Metal particles turned simulator lubricants black with rates of wear of MOM bearings an order of magnitude higher than with control PMMA particles. This appeared to model the findings of black, periarticular joint tissues and high CoCr wear in failed MOM replacements. The amount of wear debris produced during a 500 000-cycle interval of gait was 30 to 50 times greater than the weight of triggering particle allotment, indicating that MOM bearings were extremely sensitive to third-body wear.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-37
Number of pages9
JournalBone and Joint Research
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2015

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Keywords

  • 3rd-body abrasion
  • Hip arthroplasty
  • Metal-on-metal
  • Simulator
  • Wear

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