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Performance of Bore-Cone Taper Junctions on Explanted Total Knee Replacements with Modular Stem Extensions: Mechanical Disassembly and Corrosion Analysis of Two Designs

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Abstract

The purpose of this retrieval study was to evaluate bore-cone taper junctions of total knee replacements (TKR) designed with modular stem extensions . Thirty eight explanted modular components from either of two manufacturer’s designs were included. Key design differences for the included TKR were the orientation of the bore-cone taper junctions (bore located on the component versus bore located on the modular stem) and the use of similar or mixed metal combinations at the taper junction. The forces necessary to disassemble the modular stems at the bore-cone taper junction were measured using controlled mechanical testing. Surface corrosion areas on bore and cone taper surfaces were characterized and measured using photogrammetric and profilometric techniques. Taper design (p = 0.0047), evidence of fretting (p = 0.0001), lower disassembly force (ρ = −0.601, p = 0.001), and anterior/posterior location (p = 0.016) were associated with higher surface corrosion areas; however, it should be noted that the taper design, evidence of fretting, and disassembly force variables were not independent from one another. The results from this study confirmed that large amounts of taper corrosion can be present in failed TKRs with modular stem extensions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA

    Pooja Panigrahi, Kyle Snethen, Kevin G. Schwartzman & Melinda K. Harman

  2. Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery Department, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany

    Jorg Lützner

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  1. Pooja Panigrahi
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  2. Kyle Snethen
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  4. Jorg Lützner
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Correspondence to Melinda K. Harman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

    Bingyun Li

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Thomas Webster

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Panigrahi, P., Snethen, K., Schwartzman, K.G., Lützner, J., Harman, M.K. (2018). Performance of Bore-Cone Taper Junctions on Explanted Total Knee Replacements with Modular Stem Extensions: Mechanical Disassembly and Corrosion Analysis of Two Designs. In: Li, B., Webster, T. (eds) Orthopedic Biomaterials . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89542-0_5

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