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OrthoVellum

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Not affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Adult Reconstruction
intermediate
X-Type

THA Bearing Surfaces - Polyethylene, Ceramic, Metal Tribology and Wear

Hip Arthroplasty

A 52-year-old active male requires total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis. During preoperative counselling, he asks about bearing surface options and longevity. He is particularly concerned about wear debris and the need for revision surgery. The surgeon explains the tribological properties of different bearing combinations, the evolution from conventional polyethylene to highly cross-linked polyethylene, the advantages and risks of ceramic and metal bearings, and how to select the optimal bearing for a young, active patient. Regarding bearing surfaces in total hip arthroplasty:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

HIGHLY CROSS-LINKED POLYETHYLENE (HXLPE) has 70-95% less wear than conventional UHMWPE; cross-linkin...

B

CERAMIC-ON-CERAMIC (CoC) has the LOWEST WEAR rate of all bearings (less than 0.001 mm/year); made fr...

C

Conventional polyethylene has BETTER wear than HXLPE; cross-linking WEAKENS the material with no ben...

D

METAL-ON-METAL (MoM) bearings have FALLEN FROM FAVOUR due to ADVERSE LOCAL TISSUE REACTIONS (ALTR) f...

E

CERAMIC-ON-POLYETHYLENE (CoP) combines hard ceramic head with HXLPE liner; lower wear than metal-on-...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option