Distribution of polyethylene wear particles and bone fragments in periprosthetic tissue around total hip joint replacements

Abstract

Of the total amount of polyethylene particles in the whole granuloma tissue, 72% of particles in the size range 0.1-10 [micro]m and 68% of those larger than 10 [micro]m were found in granules. Therefore the formation of granules significantly lowers the effective amount of wear particles available for interaction with reactive cells and seems to be a natural defence mechanism.

Keywords

• UHMWPE wear
• in-vivo
• radiographic appearance
• debris
• arthroplasty
• osteolysis
• size
• quantification
• collagenases
• macrophages