A Novel Method for Assessment of Polyethylene Liner Wear in Radiopaque Tantalum Acetabular Cups: Clinical Validation in Patients Enrolled in a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: The Journal of arthroplasty Vol. 30; no. 12; pp. 2354 - 2359
• Main Authors: Troelsen, Anders, MD, PhD, DMSc, Greene, Meridith E., PhD, Ayers, David C., MD, Bragdon, Charles R., PhD, Malchau, Henrik, MD, DMSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Acetabulum; Adult; Aged; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - instrumentation; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip - methods; Biocompatible Materials; conventional polyethylene; Female; highly cross-linked polyethylene; Hip Prosthesis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; novel method for wear measurement; Orthopedics; Polyethylene; polyethylene wear; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure; Radiostereometric Analysis; radiostereometric analysis (RSA); Tantalum; Titanium; total hip replacement; Treatment Outcome; total hip replacement; conventional polyethylene; highly cross-linked polyethylene; novel method for wear measurement; radiostereometric analysis (RSA); polyethylene wear
• ISSN: 0883-5403; 1532-8406
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2015.06.050

Abstract Conventional radiostereometric analysis (RSA) for wear is not possible in patients with tantalum cups. We propose a novel method for wear analysis in tantalum cups. Wear was assessed by gold standard RSA and the novel method in total hip arthroplasty patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial receiving either titanium or tantalum cups (n = 46). The novel method estimated the center of the head using a model based on identification of two proximal markers on the stem and knowledge of the stem/head configuration. The novel method was able to demonstrate a pattern of wear that was similar to the gold standard in titanium cups. The novel method offered accurate assessment and is a viable solution for assessment of wear in studies with tantalum cups.