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More intense activity results in greater polyethylene wear for THA patients
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More intense activity, rather than amount of activity, has been linked with greater in-vivo polyethylene wear in highly crosslinked polyethylene implants, according to a results of a study from the Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting.
“It seems like implant wear in patients behaves similar to wear in a car engine where fast driving and many short trips cause higher wear than slow, long distance driving,” Rachel Senden, PhD, of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Atrium Medical Center in Heerlen, Netherlands, stated in a press release.
Rachel Senden
Senden and colleagues compared two patient groups similar in age, weight and BMI with Stryker ABG-II 28-mm cobalt chromium total hip arthroplasty systems. Among both groups, Hip Dysfunction & Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity score and physical activity were similar, but impact loading was greater in one group, resulting in a higher annual wear rate of 0.134 mm/year compared to 0.047 mm/year in the group with more intense activity.
“Based on this information, patients can be better instructed on what protects their joint form wear and what activities can be performed without affecting longevity,” Senden said. “Given our results, patients can protect the longevity of their implants without being less active.”
Reference:
Senden R. Poster #404. Presented at: Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting; Jan. 26-29, 2013; San Antonio.