Design, Material, and Seating Load Effects on In Vitro Fretting Corrosion Performance of Modular Head-Neck Tapers

Eric S Ouellette; Sachin A Mali; Jua Kim; Justin Grostefon; Jeremy L Gilbert

doi:10.1016/j.arth.2019.01.043

Design, Material, and Seating Load Effects on In Vitro Fretting Corrosion Performance of Modular Head-Neck Tapers

J Arthroplasty. 2019 May;34(5):991-1002. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2019.01.043. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Authors

Eric S Ouellette¹, Sachin A Mali², Jua Kim³, Justin Grostefon⁴, Jeremy L Gilbert⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; Syracuse Biomaterial Institute, Syracuse, NY; Exponent, Inc, Philadelphia, PA.
² Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; Syracuse Biomaterial Institute, Syracuse, NY; Medtronic Spine, Memphis, TN.
³ Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; Syracuse Biomaterial Institute, Syracuse, NY; Insilica, LLC, Baltimore, MD.
⁴ DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN.
⁵ Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; Syracuse Biomaterial Institute, Syracuse, NY; Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC; Clemson - Medical University of South Carolina Combined Program in Bioengineering, Charleston, SC.

PMID: 30827717
DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2019.01.043

Abstract

Background: The short-term corrosion and micromechanical behavior of 32 unique head-neck taper design/material/assembly conditions was tested using an incremental cyclic fretting corrosion (ICFC) test method previously developed.

Methods: Seven materials, design, and simulated surgical parameters were evaluated, each being assigned 2 conditions for testing, using a 2^7-2 (7 factor, quarter factorial) design of experiments test matrix. The factors explored were (1) seating load, (2) head-neck offset, (3) material combination, (4) taper diameter, (5) taper roughness, (6) angular mismatch/engagement, and (7) taper length. Each sample underwent assembly, ICFC testing, pull off.

Results: Low seating load and high head offset correlated with increased fretting corrosion (P < .05). High head offset also contributed to a lower onset load for fretting current and higher micromotion (P < .05). Head subsidence measured over the ICFC test for samples seated at 100 N was significantly higher than samples seated at 4000 N. Micromotion for 12-mm head offsets was statistically higher than samples with a 1.5-mm head offset. A number of interactive effects were observed. For example, samples seated at 4000 N were less sensitive to head offset than samples seated at 100 N in terms of the resulting fretting current.

Conclusion: Taper locking position, material combination, taper engagement length, taper roughness, and taper dimensions all had weak or no correlation with fretting current and taper micromotion. This test method and experimental design is a versatile means of assessing potential new taper designs in the future.

Keywords: MACC; THA; corrosion; electrochemistry; fretting; micromotion.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / adverse effects*
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / instrumentation*
Corrosion
Hip Prosthesis / adverse effects*
In Vitro Techniques
Prosthesis Design*
Prosthesis Failure*
Stress, Mechanical