INTRODUCTION: Hydrolytic debonding of the metal-cement interface is one of the main reasons for aseptic loosening in cemented hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BiContact femur stems (CoCrMo-/TiAl6V4-alloy) were coated by a silica/silane interlayer coating system. The stems were cemented into artificial femurs. The cyclical loading (DIN ISO 7206-4) was performed within a hip-simulator. Uncoated stems (CoCrMo-/TiAl6V4-alloy) were prepared and loaded the same way. After loading, the metal-cement and the bone-cement interfaces were analysed. Unloaded uncoated and unloaded coated BiContact stems served as a control. RESULTS: The coated loaded stems showed a significant reduction in debonding and cement failure (P < or = 0.05). A high correlation was documented between debonding and cement failure (rSpear> or = 0.9). There was no significant difference between CoCrMo- and TiAl6V4-stems (P > or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The silica/silane coating significantly decreased hydrolytic debonding at the metal-bone cement interface with consecutively less cement failure.
INTRODUCTION: Hydrolytic debonding of the metal-cement interface is one of the main reasons for aseptic loosening in cemented hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BiContact femur stems (CoCrMo-/TiAl6V4-alloy) were coated by a silica/silane interlayer coating system. The stems were cemented into artificial femurs. The cyclical loading (DIN ISO 7206-4) was performed within a hip-simulator. Uncoated stems (CoCrMo-/TiAl6V4-alloy) were prepared and loaded the same way. After loading, the metal-cement and the bone-cement interfaces were analysed. Unloaded uncoated and unloaded coated BiContact stems served as a control. RESULTS: The coated loaded stems showed a significant reduction in debonding and cement failure (P < or = 0.05). A high correlation was documented between debonding and cement failure (rSpear> or = 0.9). There was no significant difference between CoCrMo- and TiAl6V4-stems (P > or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: The silica/silane coating significantly decreased hydrolytic debonding at the metal-bone cement interface with consecutively less cement failure.