Retrieval Studies in Orthopaedic Surgery: Editorial Comment: Learning Every Implant’s Story

Excerpt

Retrieval studies of failed implants in orthopaedic surgery have given surgeons, manufacturers, and oversight agencies insight into many implant problems in the past, including issues with bearing surfaces (titanium as a bearing, carbon fiber-reinforced polyethylene, sterilization technique issues with polyethylene), implant design (locking mechanisms for polyethylene, taper junctions for modularity, and corrosion), and manufacturing (cast versus forged alloys, laser etching, processing, and sterilization issues). Most recently, concerns pertaining to metal-on-metal bearings have led to an emphasis on retrieval analysis techniques, which can aid in our understanding of why devices fail in vivo and furthermore why in vitro studies may not always correlate to ensure all issues pertaining to a device’s design and biomaterial structure are optimized and approved. In the future, as in the past, retrieval studies and analysis of failed and well-functioning implants will be important in our field as long as we continue to design and implant medical devices to reconstruct, replace, and correct traumatic and disease issues in our patients. …