Title :
Investigation of long-lived free radicals in shelf-aged UHMWPE tibial liners
Author :
Trieu, H.H. ; Haggard, W.O. ; Parr, J.E. ; Thomas, D.E. ; Jahan, M.S.
Author_Institution :
Res. & Dev., Wright Med. Technol. Inc., Arlington, TN, USA
Abstract :
UHMWPE used in total joint arthroplasty has commonly been sterilized by gamma radiation. Irradiation and subsequent aging in air reportedly cause extensive oxidation and, thus, adversely affect this material. Long-lived free radicals in gamma-sterilized/shelf-aged UHMWPE tibial inserts were investigated in this study. Significant concentrations of peroxy and primary radicals were found in the surface layer and the core region, respectively. Based on this study, it is expected that ir radiation of UHMWPE in an inert environment would result in long-lived primary radicals, which could be a potential cause of long-term oxidation
Keywords :
bone; free radicals; prosthetics; artifical joints; extensive oxidation; gamma-sterilized UHMWPE tibial inserts; inert environment; long-lived free radicals; long-term oxidation cause; peroxy radicals; primary radicals; prosthetic implants; shelf-aged UHMWPE tibial liners; total joint arthroplasty; Aging; Gamma rays; Immune system; Implants; Material storage; Oxidation; Paramagnetic resonance; Physics; Polyethylene; Research and development;
Conference_Titel :
Biomedical Engineering Conference, 1997., Proceedings of the 1997 Sixteenth Southern
Conference_Location :
Biloxi, MS
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3869-3
DOI :
10.1109/SBEC.1997.583219
