Migration of Polyethylene Wear Debris in One Type of Uncemented Femoral Component with
Circumferential Porous Coating:
An Autopsy Study of Five FemursAbstract
This autopsy study analyzed the migration of polyethylene wear debris adjacent to uncemented femoral components with circumferential porous coating. It investigated five femoral specimens retrieved at autopsy from three patients.
Two stems were 40% porous coated, two were 80% porous coated, and one was 100% porous coated. The implants’ time in situ ranged from 53 to 132 months (average, 94.8 months). All patients were followed clinically and radiographically until death.
Radiographically, three of the stems were bone ingrown with proximal bone loss; one stem was mainly fibrous encapsulated, and one stem was completely fibrous encapsulated (see figures below). Histologic examination of bone adjacent to the middle and distal sections of the femoral implant revealed no polyethylene wear debris or granulation tissue in any of the specimens. In two bone-ingrown cases, a small number of polyethylene particles and small areas of granulation tissue were present at the proximal level. This granulation tissue, however, did not cause major osteolysis.