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Metal release and corrosion effects of modular neck total hip arthroplasty

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Abstract

Modular neck implants are an attractive treatment tool in total hip replacement. Concerns remain about the mechanical stability and metal ion release caused by the modular connection. Five different implant designs were investigated in an experimental set-up. In vivo conditions were simulated and the long-term titanium release was measured. Finally, the modular connections were inspected for corrosion processes and signs of fretting. No mechanical failure or excessive corrosion could be identified for the implants tested. The titanium releases measured were extremely low compared to in vivo and in vitro studies and were not in a critical range.

Résumé

Dans les prothèses totales de hanche l’utilisation d’implants avec col modulaire est d’une utilisation fréquente et pratique. Néanmoins, cette utilisation laisse persister des doutes sur la stabilité mécanique et sur le relargage des ions métalliques. 5 différents implants ont été étudiés en reproduisant les conditions in vivo, en mesurant le relargage de titane et en évaluant la corrosion et les lésions du col. Ce travail n’a pas permis de mettre en évidence d’échec secondaire à une corrosion excessive, et les taux de titane sont restés extrêmement bas dans les limites de l’acceptable.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Ministry of Arts and Science of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) for supporting this work with research grants and Tom Bruckner (Ph.D.) from the Institute of Biometrics of the University of Heidelberg for expert advice on statistics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biomechanics and Implant Research, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200A, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    J. Philippe Kretzer & Eike Jakubowitz

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Michael Krachler

  3. German Red Cross Hospital, Lilienmattstr. 5, 76530, Baden-Baden, Germany

    Marc Thomsen

  4. ARCUS Kliniken Pforzheim, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Rastatter Strasse 17-19, 75179, Pforzheim, Germany

    Christian Heisel

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  1. J. Philippe Kretzer
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  2. Eike Jakubowitz
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  3. Michael Krachler
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  4. Marc Thomsen
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  5. Christian Heisel
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Correspondence to J. Philippe Kretzer.

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Kretzer, J.P., Jakubowitz, E., Krachler, M. et al. Metal release and corrosion effects of modular neck total hip arthroplasty. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 33, 1531–1536 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-009-0729-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-009-0729-x

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