Zirconio oxidado reduce el uso de polietileno en un simulador de uso de rodilla.

Los componentes femorales de zirconio oxidado reduce el uso de polietileno en un simulador de uso de la rodilla.

Ezzet, Kace A MD *+; Hermida, Juan C MD +; Colwell, Clifford W Jr MD *+; D'Lima, Darryl D MD +

Abstract:

Polyethylene wear remains a major problem that can jeopardize the long-term durability of prostheses used in total knee arthroplasty. Oxidized zirconium is a material that combines the strength of a metal with the wear properties of a ceramic. This study evaluated the wear rates of polyethylene inserts against oxidized zirconium femoral components. Three oxidized zirconium femoral components and three Co-Cr femoral components of identical geometry used in total knee arthroplasty were articulated against standard tibial components with modular tibial inserts made of noncross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Gravimetric and volumetric polyethylene wear rates were calculated after 5 million gait cycles on an AMTI knee wear simulator. Oxidized zirconium reduced polyethylene wear by 42% compared with Co-Cr alloy. This study shows that oxidized zirconium can reduce polyethylene wear substantially when used for fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty.

Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. 1(428):120-124, November 2004.