Investigation of Taper Failure in a Contemporary Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasty System Through Examination of Unused and Explanted Prostheses

What is it about?

This paper reported a wide variation in the as-manufactured finish of CoCr female taper surfaces. Rk in particular (the measure of the surface peaks above the mean core profile of the material) was strongly associated with increased material loss from the female taper surface. *Note, below there is an explanted Articul/eze head. In the image on the left, “U” indicates the original unworn surface. There is a clear circumferential transition (T) where the base of the male taper had worn into the female surface. Below this, there was obvious surface disruption in the mid-engagement area (E) caused by the grooves of the male taper. The image on the right shows a typical appearance under the SEM (scanning electron microscope) of the unworn surface of an explanted component that has retained its original as-manufactured form.

Featured Image

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash