Galvanic corrosion in modular THRs: correlating in-vitro test results to observations from retrieval analyses

Recent retrieval analyses of Ti-6Al-4V/Co-Cr-Mo modular hip prostheses which have been in situ for more 15 years are raising concerns regarding accelerated corrosion at this interface. This concern is compounded by the fact that the accelerated corrosion may be mediated by both mechanical and electrochemical factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a predominantly galvanic stimulus on the corrosion performance of mixed metal modular total hip replacements (THRs). The first part of this study used a sequence of static in vitro galvanic corrosion tests to determine the susceptibility of this couple to galvanic corrosion. The conclusions obtained from the in vitro study were tested by retrieval analyses on captured assembly THRs (Sivash and SRN Type /sup S/ Surgical Corporation). Their femoral components were thermomechanically assembled (to preclude fretting) and were ideal for examining the effect of a predominantly galvanic stimulus on the alloy couple. The in vitro study and the observations from retrieval analyses corroborate the fact that a stimulus of purely galvanic etiology will not initiate accelerated corrosion at this interface. It would however be a significant factor under conditions of a priori mechanical damage to the interface.

[1]  M. Schmeisser,et al.  Hydrogen peroxide , 2019, Reactions Weekly.

[2]  D. Thierry,et al.  Hydrogen peroxide toward enhanced oxide growth on titanium in PBS solution: blue coloration and clinical relevance. , 1996, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[3]  R. Poss,et al.  The impact of modularity in total hip arthroplasty. , 1995, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[4]  M. Mayor,et al.  The tradeoffs associated with modular hip prostheses. , 1995, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[5]  J. Meyer,et al.  Study of corrosion between a titanium implant and dental alloys. , 1994, Journal of dentistry.

[6]  C. Rimnac,et al.  An analysis of the head-neck taper interface in retrieved hip prostheses. , 1994, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[7]  J L Gilbert,et al.  In vivo corrosion of modular hip prosthesis components in mixed and similar metal combinations. The effect of crevice, stress, motion, and alloy coupling. , 1993, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[8]  R. E. Jensen,et al.  Mechanisms of Failure of Modular Prostheses , 1992, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[9]  R. E. Jensen,et al.  Corrosion at the interface of cobalt-alloy heads on titanium-alloy stems. , 1991, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[10]  R. Buchanan,et al.  In vitro electrochemical corrosion study of coupled surgical implant materials. , 1983, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[11]  R. Buchanan,et al.  Investigations on the galvanic corrosion of multialloy total hip prostheses. , 1981, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[12]  J. Galante,et al.  Evaluation of couple/crevice corrosion by prosthetic alloys under in vivo conditions. , 1978, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[13]  R. Staehle,et al.  Crevice corrosion in orthopedic implant metals. , 1977, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research.

[14]  Mallory Th,et al.  Mechanisms of failure of modular prostheses. , 1995 .

[15]  Michael Tanzer,et al.  Concerns with modularity in total hip arthroplasty. , 1994, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[16]  J. Gilbert,et al.  The Mechanical-Electrochemical Interaction of Passivating Alloys Used in Medicine , 1994 .

[17]  B. Johansson.  Electrochemical action due to short-circuiting of dental alloys. An in vitro and in vivo study. , 1986, Swedish dental journal. Supplement.

[18]  Johansson Bi.  Electrochemical action due to short-circuiting of dental alloys. An in vitro and in vivo study. , 1986 .