HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PEEK WEAR PARTICLE EFFECTS ON THE SYNOVIAL TISSUE OF PATIENTS

IntroductionThe complex process of inflammation and osteolysis due to wear particles still is not understood in detail. So far, Ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) is the bearing material of choice in knee arthroplasty and revision knee arthroplasty, but there is a growing demand for alternative bearing materials with improved wear properties. Lately, increasing interest developed in the use of natural and carbon-fiber-reinforced-poly-ether-ether-ketones (CFR-PEEK).While there is a lack of data concerning the effects of CFR-PEEK particles on human tissue, the effects of such wear debris in vitro and in animal studies is controversially discussed.The aim of this study was to analyze human tissue containing CFR-PEEK as well as UHMWPE wear debris.The authors hypothesized no difference between the used biomaterials because of similar size parameters of the wear particles in a prior knee simulator study of this implant.Methods and MaterialsSynovial tissue samples of 10 patients while knee revisio...