Introduction: Hip simulator tests, analyses of retrieved components as well as radiostereometric measurements revealed that cups made of highly linked polyethylene show a much better wear performance than cups of conventional polyethylene. However, to the best of our knowledge, histomorphological studies of tissues from the surrounding of highly cross – linked polyethylene components have not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to examine such tissues for particles, released from highly cross – linked polyethylene cups and to compare the findings with those of conventional polyethylene.

Material and methods: So far, periprosthetic tissues retrieved at revisions of 11 total hip endoprostheses with highly cross – linked polyethylene cups could be analysed. The revisions became necessary 3 to 50 months after implantation because of cup loosening (4), stem loosening (1), infection (3), periprosthetic fracture of the femur (1), multiple dislocations (1) and periarticular ossification (1). The findings were compared with those of 5 artificial joints (2 ABG, 2 Müller Cup older design, 1 Metalback pressfit) with conventional polyethylene cups and 54 to 231 months of function. 5 μm sections were made from the tissues and conventionally stained with HE and van Gieson. Morphometric measurements were done using objectives 10 and 40 of an Olympus microscope and the ‘Analysis’ program of Soft Ware Imaging GmbH. In the Durasul TM – cases, the total amount and the total area of particles were ascertained while in the cases used for comparison only random CX 40 samples could be measured because of the much higher content of particles.

Results: The DurasulTM cases showed in contrast to the cases with conventional polyethylene cups, no distinct foreign body reaction. In four of the DurasulTM cases no particles could be detected at all and in the remaining seven particles could be found only in a few areas. Their number per section was between 6 and 1208, their total area per mm² section ranged between 0,03 and 6,99 × 10 5.mm² In the conventional polyethylene cases the number of particles per section was between 2832 and 71447, their total area per mm² section ranged between 1,06 and 25,91 × 10 3mm²! The average size of the DurasulTM particles was clearly bigger than the size of the conventional Polyethylene.

Discussion: The measurements in tissues of early revisions show that DurasulTM releases much less particles into the surrounding than PE and cause rather no foreign body reaction. Accordingly, the burden of the tissue with polyethylene debris is much lower while the particle size is bigger with DurasulTM than with PE.