Osteolysis: new polymers and new solutions

The prevention of osteolysis is a complex problem with multiple variables. Polyethylene represents one half of the bearing surface. Femoral head size, component congruency, and bearing material play a dominant role in the generation of particulate debris. In addition to all of these variables, there is a significant individual variation of biological response to a given particulate load. The industry-wide effort to improve the overall quality of manufactured polyethylene products and the introduction of Hylamer as a polyethylene bearing surface represent a significant step forward in reducing the problems of osteolysis in the next generation of implant patients.