[Safety aspects in the coating of titanium slide components]

Due to the ever increasing percentage of patients who suffer from allergies and need joint replacements, it is necessary to also consider using titanium for the bearing surface. Hence, the number of coated titanium bearing surfaces for both hips and knees is increasing. It is difficult for the user to evaluate the products already marketed. This paper describes the presently used coating techniques without considering sophisticated technical details but listing the advantages and disadvantages of the various technologies. Using the list of necessary basic investigations for qualifying a coating together with production relevant measures for quality assurance, this paper aims to provide the possibility to get involved with a supplier in a discussion about the suitability of the coated titanium bearing components without regarding the specific technical details.