An invasive technique used to treat trauma and musculoskeletal disorders; the Total Hip Replacement (THR) is a surgical technique that attempts to restore function to the hip. With 84,998 total primary hip replacements conducted in 2022 [2] – in the UK -, it can be considered one of the greatest orthopaedic interventions over the past 100 years [3]. Measurement of material loss in retrievals is a necessity to understand true in-vivo prosthesis performance. Unfortunately, the measurement of material loss in explants does not come without inherent limitations. In conjunction with the substantial comparative wear rates of polyethylene components, literature has presented methods with subjectivity and assumption. The assumption of the pre-worn surface on explanted components in collaboration with subjectivity in the selection of this region of interest has led to scepticism as to the accuracy in the estimation of material loss calculations. Subsequently, surface metrology tools have been utilised to minimise subjectivity and assumption in quantifying wear of UHMPWE acetabular liners. The ability to quantitively determine worn and as-manufactured areas of the acetabular liners aims to improve material loss calculations with clinical interest in the measurement of explanted components. The work presented within this thesis documents a previously unexplored surface metrology technique for determining material loss in UHMWPE acetabular components. Both contact and non-contact measurement systems have been used to measure polymeric orthopaedic bearing surfaces with implant deformation also explored.
| Date of Award | 22 Apr 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Paul Bills (Main Supervisor) |
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