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Clinical Applications of UHMWPE in Joint Implants

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UHMWPE Biomaterials for Joint Implants

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Biomaterials Science and Engineering ((SSBSE,volume 13))

Abstract

Artificial joint implants have been widely applied in clinical surgery of joint replacement for those patients whose natural joints suffer from trauma, disease, or overuse. Typical artificial joints consist of a metallic component integrated with bone and a polymer component that facilitates movement. The requirements for the polymer include biocompatibility, toughness, wear resistance, lubrication, etc. Over the past 50 years, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been used to fabricate artificial hips, knees, shoulders, and other joints. In this chapter, a historical development of artificial joint implants for arthroplasty is briefly reviewed. The fundamental physicochemical properties and processing of UHMWPE are summarized to demonstrate its superiority in the application of artificial joint implants. In view of clinical outcomes, main challenges of conventional UHMWPE joint implants are finally discussed, such as oxidation degradation, sterilization, wear, and debris.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China

    Jing Chen, Guorong Gao & Jun Fu

Authors
  1. Jing Chen
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  2. Guorong Gao
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  3. Jun Fu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Fu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Jun Fu

  2. Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Zhong-Min Jin

  3. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Jin-Wu Wang

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Chen, J., Gao, G., Fu, J. (2019). Clinical Applications of UHMWPE in Joint Implants. In: Fu, J., Jin, ZM., Wang, JW. (eds) UHMWPE Biomaterials for Joint Implants. Springer Series in Biomaterials Science and Engineering, vol 13. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6924-7_1

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