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Topographical analysis of the femoral components of ex vivo total knee replacements

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Abstract

With greater numbers of primary knee replacements now performed in younger patients there is a demand for improved performance. Surface roughness of the femoral component has been proposed as a causative mechanism for premature prosthesis failure. Nineteen retrieved total knee replacements were analysed using a non-contacting profilometer to measure the femoral component surface roughness. The Hood technique was used to analyse the wear and surface damage of the matching ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tibial components. All femoral components were shown to be up to 11× rougher after their time in vivo while 95 % showed a change in skewness, further indicating wear. This increase in roughness occurred relatively soon after implantation (within 1 year) and remained unchanged thereafter. Mostly, this roughness was more apparent on the lateral condyle than the medial. This increased femoral surface roughness likely led to damage of the UHMWPE tibial component and increased Hood scores.

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Acknowledgments

The funding for this work was provided by a Knowledge Transfer Account (KTA). This KTA came from an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) award given to Newcastle and Durham Universities. None of the authors hold any professional or financial affiliations that may be perceived to have biased the presentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England, UK

    Susan C. Scholes, Emma Kennard & Thomas J. Joyce

  2. Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK

    Rajkumar Gangadharan, David Weir, Jim Holland & David Deehan

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  1. Susan C. Scholes
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  2. Emma Kennard
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  3. Rajkumar Gangadharan
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  4. David Weir
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  6. David Deehan
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  7. Thomas J. Joyce
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Correspondence to Susan C. Scholes.

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Scholes, S.C., Kennard, E., Gangadharan, R. et al. Topographical analysis of the femoral components of ex vivo total knee replacements. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 24, 547–554 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4815-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4815-z

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