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Volume 3, Issue 4 (Suppl)
J Clin Exp Orthop
ISSN:2471-8416
Osteoporosis and Arthroplasty 2017
December 04-05, 2017
Page 40
Notes:
&
11
th
International Conference on
Joint Event
OSTEOPOROSIS, ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
December 04-05, 2017 | Madrid, Spain
10
th
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARTHROPLASTY
M G Bryant, J Clin Exp Orthop 2017, 3:4(Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2471-8416-C1-002
Exploring the degradation mechanisms and preclinical testing of modular tapers - Past, Present and
Future
W
ith more people living longer healthier lives, the demand for high performance joint replacements is continuously
growing as are the demands on the performance of the artificial joints to operate for longer periods. Whilst revision due
to corrosion-related failure seems to increase, there is a need to understand the metal-biological interfaces from a clinical and
pre-clinical perspective. The degradation mechanisms of metallic orthopaedic joints are a complex mixture of mechanical and
electrochemical reactions, better known as tribocorrosion. Degradation through wear and corrosion results in changes in local
environments eliciting soft tissue reactions often requiring intervention. This will also have a direct impact on the performance
of the devices not only from a wear but also electrochemical aspect. Not only do interfacial degradation mechanisms need to
be considered from a surface integrity point of view, their specific roles and influence on the degradation products generated
and their systematic effects need to be understood. Modular taper interfaces present a current and timely issue in total joint
replacements. Whilst work has been active in this area over the past few decades, many of the methods used to assess these
interfaces remain basic and the effects of taper variables on the complex degradation mechanisms remain unknown. This is
despite the tribocorrosion processes, or fretting-corrosion in this case, established at this interface has been implicated in
high revision rates due to metal related biological responses. Comparison of in-vitro modular taper test methods with
in-
vivo
retrievals present fascinating differences that presently have not been recreated in laboratory conditions. This paper will
present the current understanding around the degradation mechanisms occurring at the modular taper interface. Furthermore
the need for future physiologically representative test methods for assessing operational envelopes of new devices and the time
dependant degradation processes will be discussed.
Recent Publications:
1. S Kurtz, KOng, E Lau, FMowat andMHalpern (2007) Projections of Primary and RevisionHip and Knee Arthroplasty
in the United States from 2005 to 2030. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 89 (4): 780-785.
2. MMorlock, D Bunte, J Guhrs and N Bishop (2017) Corrosion of the Head-Stem Taper Junction-Are We on the Verge
of an Epidemic? HSS J. 13 (1): 42-49.
3. H S Hothi, A K Matthies, R Berber, R KWhittaker, J A Skinner and A J Hart (2014) The Reliability of a Scoring System
for Corrosion and Fretting, and Its Relationship to Material Loss of Tapered, Modular Junctions of Retrieved Hip
Implants. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 29 (6): 1313-1317.
Biography
M G Bryant is currently developing research and teaching activities devoted to modern aspects of corrosion, tribology and surface science. This includes surface chemical
effects in energy production, bio-tribology, bio-corrosion and methods of mitigation. His research is concerned with understanding and optimising the interactions occurring
at interfaces commonly found in many applications. His research addresses a wide range of applications including aerospace, automotive, orthopaedic, cardiovascular
and incontinence technologies.
M.G.Bryant@leeds.ac.ukM G Bryant
University of Leeds, UK