Bone is a dynamic organ with remarkable regenerative properties seen only otherwise in the liver. However, bone healing requires vascularity, stability, growth factors, a matrix for growth, and viable cells to obtain effective osteosynthesis. We rely on these principles not only to heal fractures, but also achieve healing of benign bone defects. Unfortunately we are regularly confronted with situations where the local environment and tissue is insufficient and we must rely on our “biologic tool box.” When the process of bone repair requires additional assistance, we often look to bone grafting to provide an osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and/or osteogenic environment to promote bone healing and repair.

The primary workhorses of bone grafting includes autogenous bone, cadaver allograft, and bone graft substitutes. Among the first types of bone graft used and still used in large quantities today include autogenous and cadaver allograft bone. Allografts are useful because it is present in multiple forms that conform to the desired situation. But autogenous bone graft is considered the gold standard because it possesses all the fundamental properties to heal bone. However, it has been associated with high rates of donor site morbidity and typically requires an inpatient hospitalization following the procedure only adding to the associated costs.

The first bone graft substitute use was calcium sulfate in 1892, and over the past 122 years advancements have achieved improved material properties of calcium sulfate and helped usher in additional bioceramics for bone grafting. Today there are predominantly 4 types of bioceramics available, which include calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, and coralline hydroxyapatite. They come in multiple forms ranging from pellets and solid blocks to injectable and moldable putty. In comparison to autogenous bone graft, the primary limitation of bioceramics are the lack of osteogenic and osteoinductive properties. Bioceramics work by creating an osteoconductive scaffold to promote osteosynthesis. The options of bone graft substitutes don't end with these four types of bioceramics. Composite bioceramics take advantage of the differing biomechanical properties of these four basis types of bioceramics to develop improved materials. To overcome the lack of osteoinductive and osteogenic properties growth factors or bone marrow aspirate can be added to the bioceramic. As a result, the list of combinations available in our “biologic tool box” continues to expand. More than 20 BMPs have been identified, but only BMP-2 and BMP-7 have FDA approval.

As we look forward to areas of future research and need within orthobiologics, some will likely come in the near future while others are much further in the future. We will continue to strive for the ideal bone graft substitute, which will have similar osteoinductive properties as autograft. The ultimate bone graft substitute will likely involve stem cells because it will allow an alternative to autogenous bone with the same osteogenic potential.

Corrosion at metal/metal modular interfaces in total hip arthroplasty was first described in the early 1990's, and the susceptibility of modular tapers to mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC), a combination of fretting and crevice corrosion, was subsequently introduced. Since that time, there have been numerous reports of corrosion at this taper interface, documented primarily in retrieval studies or in rare cases of catastrophic failure.

We have reported that fretting corrosion at the modular taper may produce soluble and particulate debris that can migrate locally or systemically, and more recently reported that this process can cause an adverse local tissue reaction. Based on the type of tissue reaction and the presence of elevated serum metal ion levels, this process appears quite similar to adverse local tissue reactions secondary to metal on metal bearing surfaces. While modularity in THR has demonstrable clinical benefits, modular junctions increase the risk of corrosion and the types of adverse soft tissue reactions seen in patients with accelerated metal release from metal-on-metal bearing THRs.

Introduction

Recurrent dislocation following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a complex, multifactorial problem that has been shown to be the most common indication for revision THA. The purpose of this study was to classify causes of instability and evaluate outcomes based on an algorithmic approach to treatment.

Corrosion at metal/metal modular interfaces in total hip arthroplasty was first described in the early 1990's, and the susceptibility of modular tapers to mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC), a combination of fretting and crevice corrosion, was subsequently introduced. Since that time, there have been numerous reports of corrosion at this taper interface, documented primarily in retrieval studies or in rare cases of catastrophic failure.

We have reported that fretting corrosion at the modular taper may produce soluble and particulate debris that can migrate locally or systemically, and more recently reported that this process can cause an adverse local tissue reaction. Based on the type of tissue reaction and the presence of elevated serum metal ion levels, this process appears quite similar to adverse local tissue reactions secondary to metal on metal bearing surfaces. While modularity in THR has demonstrable clinical benefits, modular junctions increase the risk of corrosion and the types of adverse soft tissue reactions seen in patients with accelerated metal release from metal-on-metal bearing THRs.