Assessing the long-term pattern of femoral head penetration after total hip arthroplasty

At long-term follow-up, femoral head roughening, or the accumulation of wear debris, may contribute to accelerated wear. Among gamma-irradiated liners, progressive oxidation may also increase wear rates. However, declining activity level associated with advancing age may lead to decreased wear rates. This study sought to characterize how radiographic wear progressed over time.