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THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTICULATE DEBRIS OBTAINED FROM FAILED
ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANTS:
Chapter 1
I believe that one of the characteristics of the human race -
possibly the one that is primarily responsible for its course
of evolution - is that it has grown by creatively responding to
failure.
- GLEN SEABORG
1Introduction
When severe arthritis or other disorders of the joint develop,
joint implants are often used. Occasionally, these implanted joint
systems must be replaced by the surgeon. Some reasons for this
replacement (revision) surgery include general soreness in the
joint or loosening of the implant components. When surgeons perform
the revision surgery, they often find varying quantities of fine
metallic and polymeric debris in and about the tissues, particularly
when the implants have been manufactured from titanium components.
An open question is: "Is this particulate debris the result
of wear, corrosion, or a combination of the two?" In this
study we attempt to clarify this question by combining a thorough
review of the literature with the following procedures:
- Metallurgically Characterize Metallic Debris Particles Obtained
During Revision Surgery Procedure
- Metallurgically Characterize a Typical As-Received Implant
Stem Component
- Correlate Particulate Attributes to Debris Generation Mechanism(s)
Next Chapter (Chapter 2)
Table of Contents
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