Cementation of a polyethylene liner into a metal shell.

As the number of revision hip arthroplasties continues to increase, alternative reconstructive options may be necessary. Cementation of a polyethylene liner into a well-fixed metal acetabular shell has previously been reported to save bone stock and enhance the pullout strength. This study analyzed whether cementation of various types of mechanically modified or nonmodified liners into a metal shell altered wear characteristics when compared with noncemented modular liners. The authors used nonirradiated and highly cross-linked polyethylene liners that were mechanically modified or left unmodified. Wear in both nonirradiated and highly cross-linked liners was not affected by the cementing process. Wear of the highly cross-linked polyethylene liners was significantly less when compared with the nonirradiated liners. This laboratory study provides quantitative data supporting previous qualitative studies of cementing a polyethylene liner into a metal-backed acetabular shell. Based on this study, cementation of a mechanically modified liner did not affect wear in this study, which simulated 3 years of activity.