Abstract
Hylamer polyethylene was introduced in the 1990s as an alternative to conventional polyethylene. Its chemical and physical properties, and especially its high crystallinity, were claimed to improve resistance to wear. Initially Hylamer devices were sterilized by gamma radiation in air, then the technique was changed and gamma radiation was performed in the absence of oxygen. Clinical experience has shown the early loosening of some devices made from Hylamer. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether early wear and consequent osteolysis was linked to the sterilization method. We retrospectively compared 31 patients with hip prostheses with Hylamer liners sterilized by gamma radiation in air (group 1) with 30 patients with the same prosthesis, but sterilized in the absence of oxygen (group 2). The groups were similar for sex, age, disease, head diameter and material. Mean follow-up was 84 months and no clinical signs of failure were present. Radiographic measurement revealed that wear of group 1 was significantly greater than that of group 2 (0.23 mm/year vs 0.09 mm/year, p=0.001). Periacetabular and femoral osteolysis in group 1 was significantly greater than group 2. In conclusion, the method of sterilization might have influenced the outcome of Hylamer polyethylene liners.
Résumé
Le polyéthylène Hylamer a été présenté dans les années 1990 comme une alternative au polyéthylène conventionnel. Ses caractéristiques chimiques et physiques, et surtout sa haute cristallinité, devaient améliorer la résistance à l'usure. Tout d'abord l'Hylamer a été stérilisé par rayonnement gamma dans l'air, puis la technique a été changée et le rayonnement gamma a été exécuté en l'absence d'oxygène. L'expérience clinique a montré des descellements précoces de composants en Hylamer. Le but de cette étude était de découvrir si l'usure précoce et l'ostéolyse résultante étaient liées à la méthode de stérilisation. Nous avons comparé rétrospectivement 31 malades avec une prothèse de la hanche avec liner en Hylamer stérilisé par rayonnement gamma dans l'air (groupe 1) avec 30 malades avec la même prothèse, mais stérilisée en l'absence d'oxygène (groupe 2). Les groupes n'étaient pas différents pour le sexe, l'âge et la maladie, le diamètre de la tête et la matière. Le suivi moyen était de 84 mois et aucun signe clinique d'échec n'était présent. Les mesures radiographiques ont noté que l'usure du groupe 1 était notablement plus grande que celle du groupe 2 (0.23 mm/an contre 0.09 mm/an, p=0.001). L'ostéolyse périacétabulaire et fémorale dans le groupe 1 était nettement plus grande que dans le groupe 2. En conclusion, la méthode de stérilisation a pu influencer le devenir du liner en polyéthylène Hylamer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrack RL, Lavernia C, Szuszczewicz ES, Sawhney J (2001) Radiographic wear measurements in a cementless metal-backed modular cobalt-chromium acetabular component. J Arthroplasty 16:820–828
Chmell MJ, Poss R, Thomas WH, Sledge CB (1996) Early failure of Hylamer acetabular inserts due to eccentric wear. J Arthroplasty 11:351–353
DeLee JG, Charnley J (1976) Radiological demarcation of cemented sockets in total hip replacement. Clin Orthop 121:20–32
Graeter JH, Nevis R (1998) Early osteolysis with Hylamer acetabular liners. J Arthroplasty 13:464–466
Gruen TA, McNeice GM, Amstutz HC (1979) “Modes of failure” of cemented stem-type femoral components. A radiographic analysis of loosening. Clin Orthop 141:17–27
Harris WH (1969) Traumatic arthritis of the hip after dislocation and acetabular fractures: treatment by mold arthroplasty. An end-result study using a new method of result evaluation. J Bone Jt Surg Am 51:737–755
King R, Kirkpatrick L, Devanathan D, Krebs S, Rohr W (1996) Long term aging behaviour of implant grades of polyethylene. Transactions 5th World Biomater Conference 2:196
Kurtz SM, Muratoglu OK, Evans M, Edidin AA (1999) Advances in the processing, sterilization, and crosslinking of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for total joint arthroplasty. Biomaterials 20:1659–1688
Li S, Burstein AH (1994) Ultra-high molecular weigh polyethylene. The material and its use in total joint implants. J Bone Jt Surg Am 76:1080–1090
Livermore J, Ilstrup D, Morrey B (1990) Effect of femoral head size on wear of the polyethylene acetabular component. J Bone Jt Surg Am 72:518–528
Livingston BJ, Chmell MJ, Spector M, Poss R (1997) Complication of total hip arthroplasty associated with the use of an acetabular component with a Hylamer liner. J Bone Jt Surg Am 79:1529–1538
Martell JM, Berdia S (1997) Determination of polyethylene wear in total hip replacements with use of digital radiographs. J Bone Jt Surg Am 79:1635–1641
McKellop HA (1995) Wear modes mechanisms, damage, and debris. Separating cause from effect in the wear of total hip replacements. In: Galante JO, Rosenberg AG, Callaghan JJ (eds) Total hip revision surgery. Raven Press, New York, pp 21–39
McKellop H, Shen FW, Lu B, Campbell P, Salovey R (2000) Effect of sterilization method and other modifications on the wear resistance of acetabular cups made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. A hip-simulator study. J Bone Jt Surg Am 82:1708–1725
Soto MO, Rodriguez JA, Ranawat CS (2000) Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the Harris-Galante cup: incidence of wear and osteolysis at 7 to 9 years follow-up. J Arthroplasty 15:139–145
Sutula LC, Collier JP, Saum KA, Currier BH, Currier JH, Sanford WM, Mayor MB, Wooding RE, Sperling DK, Williams IR et al (1995) The Otto Aufranc Award. Impact of gamma sterilization on clinical performance of polyethylene in the hip. Clin Orthop 319:28–40
Sychterz CJ, Orishimo KF, Engh CA (2004) Sterilization and polyethylene wear: clinical studies to support laboratory data. J Bone Jt Surg Am 86:1017–1022
Vaughn BK, Dameron TB Jr, Bauer TW, Mochida Y, Akisue T, Eberle RW (1999) Early osteolysis following total hip arthroplasty with use of Hylamer liner in combination with a modular ceramic femoral head. A case report. J Bone Jt Surg Am 81:1446–1449
Yamauchi K, Hasegawa Y, Iwasada S, Sakano S, Kitamura S, Warashina H, Iwata H (2001) Head penetration into Hylamer acetabular liner sterilized by gamma irradiation in air and in a nitrogen atmosphere. J Arthroplasty 16:463–470
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stea, S., Antonietti, B., Baruffaldi, F. et al. Behavior of Hylamer polyethylene in hip arthroplasty: comparison of two gamma sterilization techniques. International Orthopaedics (SICO 30, 35–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-005-0022-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-005-0022-6