Assessing Taper Geometry, Head Size, Head Material, and Their Interactions in Taper Fretting Corrosion of Retrieved Total Hip Arthroplasty Implants

Authors

Zein S. El-Zein, Beaumont Health Resident
Corinn K. Gehrke, Beaumont Health
J Sawyer Croley, Beaumont Health Resident
Matthew P. Siljander, Beaumont Health Resident
Murphy A. Mallow, Beaumont Health
Michael A. Flierl, Beaumont Health
James J. Verner, Beaumont Health
Erin A. Baker, Beaumont Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2021

Publication Title

The Journal of arthroplasty

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Decreased fretting and corrosion damage at the taper interface of retrieved ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty (THA) implants has been consistently reported; however, resultant fretting corrosion as a function of femoral head size and taper geometry has not been definitively explained.

METHODS: Eight cohorts were defined from 157 retrieved THA implants based on femoral head composition (n = 95, zirconia-toughened alumina, ZTA vs n = 62, cobalt-chromium alloy, CoCr), head size (n = 56, 32mm vs n = 101, 36mm), and taper geometry (n = 84, 12/14 vs n = 73, V40). THA implants were evaluated and graded for taper fretting and corrosion. Data were statistically analyzed, including via a 2³ factorial modeling.

RESULTS: Factorial-based analysis indicated the significant factors related to both resultant (summed) fretting and corrosion damage were head material and taper geometry; head material-taper geometry interaction was also a significant factor in resultant corrosion damage. Lower rates of moderate-to-severe fretting and corrosion damage were exhibited on ZTA heads (ZTA = 13%, CoCr = 38%), smaller heads (32mm = 18%, 36mm = 26%), and 12/14 tapers (12/14 = 13%, V40 = 35%). ZTA+32mm heads demonstrated the lowest rates of moderate-to-severe fretting and corrosion damage (12/14 = 2%, V40 = 7%), whereas CoCr heads with V40 tapers demonstrated the greatest rates of moderate-to-severe damage (32mm = 47%, 36mm = 59%).

CONCLUSION: In this series, retrieved implants with ZTA, 32-mm heads paired with 12/14 tapers exhibited lower rates of moderate-to-severe damage. Factorial analysis showed head material, taper geometry, and their interactions were the most significant factors associated with resultant damage grades. Isolating implant features may provide additional information regarding factors leading to fretting and corrosion damage in THA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV (case series).

Volume

36

Issue

7S

First Page

386

Last Page

394

Recommended Citation

El-Zein ZS, Gehrke CK, Croley JS, Siljander MP, Mallow MA, Flierl MA, Verner JJ, Baker EA. Assessing Taper Geometry, Head Size, Head Material, and Their Interactions in Taper Fretting Corrosion of Retrieved Total Hip Arthroplasty Implants. J Arthroplasty. 2021 Jul;36(7S):S386-S394.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2021.02.041. Epub 2021 Feb 23. PMID: 33832796.

DOI

10.1016/j.arth.2021.02.041

ISSN

1532-8406

PubMed ID

33832796