Absence of surface roughness changes after insertion of one type of matte cemented femoral component during 2 to 15 years.

Abstract

Theoretically, micromotion might occur even in stable cement-implant interface conditions. It was hypothesized that smoothing of the matte surfaces of femoral components because of abrasion or corrosion phenomena is a possible consequence of micromotion. Two new and 11 femoral components that were retrieved after 2 to 15 years of stable cement-implant interface conditions were inspected, investigated with light microscopy, and evaluated with surface roughness measurement by a profilometer. No surface changes were observed such as abrasion or corrosion phenomena except at the tip and the collar of the femoral components. The surface roughness was Ra = 1.0 and 1.1 micro m in the new femoral components and Ra (mean) = 0.96 micro m (range; 0.8-1.5 micro m) in the retrieved components. There was no correlation between time in situ and surface roughness as confirmed by regression analysis. These data suggest that significant micromotion was not present at the studied interface.