Highly cross-linked polyethylene may not have an advantage in total knee arthroplasty.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long-term results after total knee replacement (TKR) with conventional and compression-molded polyethylene (PE) have been excellent. The introduction of highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), which has demonstrated superior wear properties in total hip replacement (THR), has led to its recent use in TKR. However, the knee has a unique biomechanical environment characterized by large contact stresses and shear forces and differs from the highly conforming articulation (and primarily abrasive and adhesive wear) found in THR. For this reason, XLPE, with its decreased fatigue resistance and toughness compared to PE, may not be the best material to withstand these unique forces.

Questions

This review and evaluation of the literature aims to answer the following quest

SUBMITTER: Sakellariou VI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3772158 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature