Wear of the acetabular socket. Comparison of polyacetal and polyethylene

Frictional characteristics of polyacetal (Delrin) sockets and of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sockets retrieved in revision after aseptic loosening were compared with measurements of friction in new sockets. Friction in retrieved polyacetal sockets was twice as great as in retrieved polyethylene sockets. We also found that frictional characteristics of polyacetal changed as the material aged in vivo. In contrast, friction in polyethylene sockets remained fairly constant, even though most of them contained bone-cement particles. Friction in polyacetal sockets may be important for the relatively high incidence of socket loosening of the Christiansen prosthesis. Measurements of wear of the polyacetal sockets showed a mean annual dimensional change of 240 mm3, four times greater than that reported for the Charnley polyethylene acetabular prosthesis.