Polyethylene (MPC Polymer)

Total hip replacement (THR) is an established treatment modality for patients with end-stage hip disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent surveys have revealed that the number of surgical procedures is growing faster than ever due to the increase in elderly population. However, aseptic loosening caused by periprosthetic osteolysis is a serious concern that limits patient survival and clinical success, and extensive research has indicated that wear particles from polyethylene (PE) liners are responsible for osteolysis. Hence, many approaches have been adopted to reduce the production of wear particles, thereby improving the survival of THR. Aiming at the reduction of wear particles and the elimination of periprosthetic osteolysis, we successfully developed a novel highly cross-linked PE (HXLPE) liner with the surface graft of a biocompatible phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC). In this section, we introduce the characteristics and clinical outcomes of THR using PMPC-grafted HXLPE liners.