Problematic sites of third body embedment in polyethylene for total hip wear acceleration

The influence of wear paths produced by hip replacement patients during normal walking on wear rates

“…Indeed, the effect of particulate debris was considered crucial in the process of accelerating wear rate in a numerical model that used kinematic inputs from a single normal subject. 23 Perhaps the key factor that could not be assessed in this study is the surface roughness of the femoral head. In a recent finite element study, no difference in predicted wear rates was found between the conditions of walking and those of walking and stair climbing combined for smooth femoral heads, but when roughened femoral heads were tested wear rate increased by 57% for the combined walking and stair climbing compared to walking alone.…”

Biomechanics and Prosthetic Osseointegration

“…Three types of wear are distinguished: (a) abrasive, the harder material produces furrows in the softer material; (b) adhesive, the softer material is transferred as a thin film onto the harder one, and (c) fatigue, in which repetitive loading produces subsurface cracks or sheets of material delaminated from the surface. The term ''three-body wear'' refers to a specific mechanism of abrasive wear caused by retention of debris particles between the sliding joint surfaces; these generate additional stress concentrations of the articulating surfaces [11]. Wear is actually considered one of the most significant factors limiting the longevity of total joints.…”

The Bearing Surfaces in Total Hip Arthroplasty – Options, Material Characteristics and Selection

“…In addition, conventional polyethylene thickness should not decrease below 6 to 8 mm, or accelerated wear polyethylene failure and osteolysis will develop. (Lundberga 2006) …”