Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR/PEEK) is theoretically suitable as a material for use in hip prostheses, offering excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and the absence of metal ions. To evaluate in vivo fixation methods of CFR/ PEEK hip prostheses in bone, we examined radiographic and histological results for cementless or cemented CFR/PEEK hip prostheses in an ovine model with implantation up to 52 weeks. CFR/PEEK cups and stems with rough-textured surfaces plus hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings for cementless fixation and CFR/PEEK cups and stems without HA coating for cement fixation were manufactured based on ovine computed tomography (CT) data. Unilateral total hip arthroplasty was performed using cementless or cemented CFR/PEEK hip prostheses. Five cementless cups and stems and six cemented cups and stems were evaluated. On the femoral side, all cementless stems demonstrated bony ongrowth fixation and all cemented stems demonstrated stable fixation without any gaps at both the bonecement and cement-stem interfaces. All cementless cases and four of the six cemented cases showed minimal stress shielding. On the acetabular side, two of the five cementless cups demonstrated bony ongrowth fixation. Our results suggest that both cementless and cemented CFR/PEEK stems work well for fixation. Cup fixation may be difficult for both cementless and cemented types in this ovine model, but bone ongrowth fixation on the cup was first seen in two cementless cases. Cementless fixation can be achieved using HA-coated CFR/PEEK implants, even under load-bearing conditions.
A carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is theoretically a suitable material for use in an uncemented hip prosthesis considering it can provide isoelastic environment with the surrounding bone, adequate fatigue strength, and a metal-free radiographic evaluation. To date, the selection of polymer material and optimization of both design and surface finish of the prostheses for osseointegration has not been accomplished. This study examined radiographic and histologic results of an uncemented CFRP stem manufactured from carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR/PEEK) with a roughened surface and a bioactive treatment in an adult ovine model following a 12-month implantation period. A unilateral hemiarthroplasty of the hip was performed using the CFRP stem or a titanium stem as a control. Four cases with the CFRP stem and five cases with titanium stem were evaluated. Bone on-growth fixation was achieved in two cases with the CFRP stem and in all the cases with the titanium stem. The CFRP cases showed minimal stress shielding while three of five cases with the titanium stem demonstrated typical osteopenia associated with stiff metal stems. Bone on-growth to the uncemented CFRP stem was achieved by using the CFR/PEEK for the material and modifying the surface design and the bioactive surface finish. Bone resorption and osteopenia observed with the Ti stems was not found with the CFRP design.
Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) hip prostheses possess numerous advantages over metal prostheses; however, the security of the taper connection between the CFR-PEEK stem and the modular femoral head in vivo has not been verified. Therefore, we mechanically examined the taper connection of retrieved in vivo loaded CFR-PEEK stems in comparison with in vivo loaded titanium alloy stems. CFR-PEEK and titanium alloy femoral stems with a 12/14 taper trunnion were implanted in ovine hips. A 22-mm ceramic head was intraoperatively impacted to the stem. Retrieved specimens were obtained following weight-bearing conditions for up to 39 postoperative weeks and taper junction pull-off tests were conducted. Postoperative retrieved CFR-PEEK stem pull-off strength was significantly greater than that at time zero. Postoperative retrieved CFR-PEEK stem pull-off strength was also significantly higher than that of postoperative retrieved titanium alloy stem. Microscopic findings of the taper surface revealed no obvious damage in the retrieved CFR-PEEK stems, whereas fretting and corrosion were observed in the retrieved titanium alloy stems. The present findings suggest that the taper connection between the ceramic head and the 12/14 CFR-PEEK stem trunnion is more secure than that between the ceramic head and the titanium alloy trunnion.
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