September 06, 2016
1 min read
Save

Low head penetration found with vitamin E-diffused highly crosslinked polyethylene liner after THA

You've successfully added to your alerts. You will receive an email when new content is published.

Click Here to Manage Email Alerts

We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com.

Recently published results showed use of vitamin E-diffused highly crosslinked polyethylene liner in total hip arthroplasty led to low head penetration at 5 years.

Forty-seven patients with osteoarthritis underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) in 51 hips and received a vitamin E-diffused highly crosslinked polyethylene (VEPE) liner, a porous titanium shell and an uncemented stem with a 32-mm cobalt-chrome femoral head (Zimmer Biomet), according to researchers. The researchers inserted tantalum beads into the VEPE to measure femoral head penetration using radiostereometric analysis obtained preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 5 years postoperatively along with patient reported outcome measures.

At 5 years, researchers noted 42 hips were available for follow-up. Results showed a mean error of the mean proximal head penetration into the VEPE of approximately 0.06, with statistically significant differences between the 6-month interval and 2 years, 3 years and 5 years. Researchers also noted statistically significant differences between 1 year and 2 years and between 1 year and 3 years, but no differences between 1 year and 5 years or between 2 years and later time points.

According to results, patients reported significant improvements from the preoperative scores with all improvements occurring by 6 months and maintained to 5 years. Researchers found 82% of patients had a Harris Hip Score above 90 at 5 years, as well as mean scores of approximately 1 for patient-reported pain VAS. High levels of functionality were also reported by patients at the latest follow-up with results showing a University of California, Los Angeles score of approximately 6 and a SF-36 physical function score of approximately 49. – by Casey Tingle

Disclosures: Nebergall received institutional research support from Zimmer Biomet. Please see the full study for a list of all other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.