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  • Case report: analysis of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular cup retrieval at 41 years.

Case report: analysis of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular cup retrieval at 41 years.

Journal of long-term effects of medical implants (2013-02-23)
Frederick J Kummer, Lizeth Herrera, Alec Weir, Kim-Phuong Le, William L Jaffe
ABSTRACT

A polyethylene cup explanted after 41 years was examined using several analytical techniques to determine whether there was a material cause for the extremely low wear observed. Neither the amount of polyethylene oxidation nor crystallinity appeared to be a factor.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, average Mw ~4,000 by GPC, average Mn ~1,700 by GPC
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, Medium density
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, Ultra-high molecular weight, average Mw 3,000,000-6,000,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, Ultra-high molecular weight, surface-modified, powder, 125 μm avg. part. size
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, Ultra-high molecular weight, surface-modified, powder, 34-50 μm particle size
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, low density, melt index 25 g/10 min (190°C/2.16kg)
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, Linear low density, melt index 1.0 g/10 min (190°C/2.16kg)
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, High density, melt index 12 g/10 min (190 °C/2.16kg)
Sigma-Aldrich
Polyethylene, High density, melt index 2.2 g/10 min (190 °C/2.16kg)
Supelco
Polyethylene, analytical standard, for GPC, 2,000
Polyethylene (LDPE), ERM®, certified reference material