Wear and Creep of Vitamin E-Diffused Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liners Randomized Radiostereometric Study of 70 Hips Followed for 2 Years

First generation of modern highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) was clinically introduced in 1998 and has in most countries become standard as bearing surface in total hip arthroplasty. Studies of these materials have shown significantly reduced femoral head penetration when compared to gamma sterilized conventional polyethylene.

Thermaly treating (melting or annealing) is often a part of the manufacturing process of highly cross-linked polyethylenes. The polyethylene is exposed to irradiation to achieve cross-linking and improve wear resistance. Cross-linking by irradiation increases the amount of free radicals in the material.These radicals must be eliminated or stabilized to avoid oxidative degradation over time.Thermal treatment improves oxidation resistance but potentially changes the mechanical properties of the polyethylene.

By annealing i.e. heat treatment under the melt temperature the material maintains better mechanical properties, but elimination of free radicals is suboptimal, which can lead to oxidation in vivo.Heat treatment of the polyethylene above the melt temperature will more effectively reduce or eliminate the amount of residual free radicals. This will increase oxidation resistance, but will negatively influence the mechanical properties of the material.

Due to these limitations new generations of cross-linked polyethylene materials have been developed. Introducing Vitamin E (α-tocopherol), a natural antioxidant into the material prevents oxidative degradation and stabilizes the free radicals found in irradiated polyethylene plastic. In laboratory tests, polyethylene liners with incorporated vitamin-E have demonstrated similar wear, greater strength and better resistance to oxidation compared with the first generation cross-linked polyethylene. Currently, there are only laboratory studies on vitamin E diffused polyethylene available.

The hypothesis in this study is that the early-term E-XLPE wear is low and comparable to a heat-treated XLPE. The investigators also hypothesize that implant fixation and clinical outcome at two years will be unaffected by the choice of polyethylene.