Abstract
Implant failure can be triggered by metal wear and corrosion in the articular interfaces as well in the modular sections of hip implants, which may induce inflammatory reactions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the surface characteristics related to wear and corrosion of eleven retrieved hip implants due to different clinical causes. Factors that evidenced wear and corrosion such as scratches, pits and discoloration were investigated to obtain information on potential root causes of implant failure. All surfaces showed some degree of wear. The most damaged surface, from a cobalt-chromium modular stem, was further investigated by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical experiments. The surface of this sample showed titanium contamination, which was hypothesized as being released from other implant components due to wear and corrosion.
