Abstract
ZrN-multilayer coating is clinically well established in total knee arthroplasty [1–3] and has demonstrated significant reduction in polyethylene wear and metal ion release [4,5].
The goal of our study was to analyze the biotribological behaviour of the ZrN-multilayer coating on a polished cobalt-chromium cemented hip stem.
CoCr28Mo6 alloy hip stems with ZrN-multilayer coating (CoreHip®AS) were tested versus an un-coated version. In a worst-case-scenario the stems with ceramic heads have been tested in bovine serum in a severe cement interface debonding condition under a cyclic load of 3,875 N for 15 million cycles. After 1, 3, 5, 10 & 15 million cycles the surface texture was analysed by scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX). Metal ion concentration of Co,Cr,Mo was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) after each test interval.
Based on SEM/EDX analysis, it has been demonstrated that the ZrN-multilayer coating keeps his integrity over 15 million cycles of severe stem cemented interface debonding without any exposure of the CoCr28Mo6 substrate.
The ZrN-multilayer coated polished cobalt-chromium cemented hip stem has shown a reduction of Co & Cr metal ion release by two orders of a magnitude, even under severe stem debonding and high interface micro-motion conditions.
ZrN-multilayer coating on polished cobalt-chromium cemented hip stems might be a suitable option for further minimisation of Co & Cr metal ion release in total hip arthroplasty. Clinical evidence has to be proven during the next years.
