Oxidative degradation in highly cross-linked and conventional polyethylene after 2 years of real-time shelf aging.

Previous studies have reported oxidative degradation of conventional polyethylene (PE) components during shelf aging, following radiation. However, no studies have yet reported data concerning the effect of real-time shelf aging in the manufacturer's packaging on the oxidative degradation of commercially available highly cross-linking PE components. The null hypothesis tested was that in either highly cross-linked or conventional PE acetabular components there would be no significant difference in the amount of oxidative degradation between time zero PE liners and PE liners that had been real-time shelf aged for 2 years in their respective packaging. The results of the study indicated that after 2 years of real-time shelf aging, negligible oxidative degradation occurred with minimal changes in oxidation index, density, and percent crystallinity in commercially available highly cross-linked and conventional PE acetabular liners. These data suggested that oxidative degradation was not a clinical issue in the highly cross-linked and conventional PE components examined after 2 years of real-time shelf aging. It is likely that current manufacturing and packaging technologies have limited the previous clinical concerns related to oxidative degradation during shelf aging of highly cross-linked and conventional PE components.