UHMWPE Is the Only Alternative for Knee Arthroplasty

Despite its successful track record, wear and damage of the UHMWPE insert compromises the longevity of knee arthroplasty. Osteolysis, a rare occurrence with all-UHMWPE tibial components, has been documented with increasing frequency in modular knee replacements. Clearly, improved wear behavior of the UHMWPE insert would be advantageous from the perspective of reducing the risk of osteolysis and aseptic loosening. 

Examples of post wear in PEC TKRs (Johnson Johnson). (A) Anterior post wear, producing a bow tie wear scar (B) fatigue damage to the stabilizing post. 

I am grateful to my colleagues af fhe Rothman Institute, William Hozack, Peter Sharkey, Gina Bissett, James Purtill, and Jay Parvisi. By generous donation of fheir time and research collaboration, they have deepened my insight into the clinical topics covered in this chapter. 

Special thanks to Professor Otto Robertsson, University of Lund, for permission to reproduce the figures related to the Swedish Knee Registry. Thanks also to Clare Mmnac, for editorial assistance with this chapter, and to John Martell, for many helpful discussions and for providing the figure related to ultrasound. 

Andriacchi T.P., and K.R. Mikosz. 1991. Musculoskeletal dynamics, locomotion, and dinical applications. In Basic orthopedic biomechanics. V.C. Mow and W.C. Hayes, Eds. New York Raven Press. 

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