Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research: February 2015 - Volume 473 - Issue 2 - p 432–438 doi: 10.1007/s11999-014-3735-2 Symposium: 2014 Hip Society Proceedings

The John Charnley Award: Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene in Total Hip Arthroplasty Decreases Long-term Wear: A Double-blind Randomized Trial

Glyn-Jones, Siôn, FRCS, DPhil1; Thomas, Geraint, E. R., MA, MRCS1,a; Garfjeld-Roberts, Patrick, MA, MRCS1; Gundle, Roger, FRCS, DPhil1; Taylor, Adrian, FRCS1; McLardy-Smith, Peter, FRCS1; Murray, David, W., FRCS, MD1

Hip

Background The use of highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) is now commonplace for total hip arthroplasty. Hip simulator studies and short-term in vivo measurements suggest that the wear rate of some types of HXLPE is significantly less than conventional ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). However, there are few long-term data to support its use.

Questions/purposes The aim of this study was to measure the long-term steady-state wear of HXLPE compared with UHMWPE liners in a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial using radiostereometric analysis.

Methods Fifty-four patients were randomized to receive hip arthroplasties with either UHMWPE liners or HXLPE liners. Complete followup was available on 39 of these patients (72%). All patients received the same cemented stem and an uncemented acetabular component. Three-dimensional penetration of the head into the socket was determined at 10 years using a radiostereometric analysis system, which has an in vivo accuracy of < 0.1 mm. Oxford Hip Scores were compared between the groups.

Results At 10 years there was significantly less wear of HXLPE (0.003 mm/year; 95% confidence interval [CI], ± 0.010; SD 0.023; range, −0.057 to 0.074) compared with UHMWPE (0.030 mm/year; 95% CI, ± 0.012; p < 0.001; SD 0.0.27; range, −0.001 to 0.164). The volumetric penetration from 1 to 10 years for the UHMWPE group was 98 mm³ (95% CI, ± 46 mm³; SD 102 mm³; range, −4 to 430 mm³) compared with 14 mm³ (95% CI, ± 40 mm³; SD 91 mm³; range, −189 to 242 mm³) for the HXLPE group (p = 0.01).

Conclusions This study demonstrates that HXLPE has little detectable steady-state in vivo wear. This may result in fewer reoperations from loosening; however, careful clinical followup into the second decade still needs to be performed.

Level of Evidence Level I, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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