Increase in early polyethylene wear after sterilization with ethylene oxide: radiostereometric analyses of 201 total hips

We evaluated polyethylene wear by measuring femoral head penetration in 201 THA (median age 62 (31-81) years, 117 women) extracted from 5 randomized studies aimed to assess various fixation principles. There were 30 cemented all-polyethylene Lubinus cups sterilized by gamma irradiation in a reduced oxygen environment, 65 porous-coated Trilogy cups with liners gamma-sterilized in inert gas. Moreover, 37 cemented cups were sterilized with ethylene oxide (Reflection all-poly) and 69 porous-coated cups had liners sterilized in ethylene oxide (Reflection). 28 mm femoral heads were used in all cups. The patients were followed with repeated radiostereometric measurements (RSA) up to 2 years. The activity level of the patients was evaluated by a questionnaire. After 2 years, cups with polyethylene sterilized in EtO had almost twice the proximal and 3D penetration rates, as compared with gamma-sterilized polyethylene. The penetration did not differ between the gamma-irradiated designs. Using stepwise linear regression analysis, we found that the type of sterilization, age and weight were the most important predictors and that they determined the direction of the proximal penetration rate. Activity score, male gender and proximal migration of the cup had little effect. The accelerated wear observed with the EtO-sterilized polyethylene causes concerns about long-term problems and especially in younger patients.