Hip simulator wear comparison of metal-on-metal, ceramic-on-ceramic and crosslinked UHMWPE bearings

Crosslinked polyethylene (PE) showed a 10-fold reduction in wear over control UHMWPE liners, regardless of head size. M/M components showed a nine-fold reduction in wear over the control PE. Wear performance of the M/M bearings was non-linear and highly variable; one M/M sample had a wear rate similar to that of the PE controls. Wear rates for C-CLPE and C/C were far less variable than for M/M. C-CLPE bearing wear was more consistent than M/M, although both had similar average wear. C/C showed a consistent 500-fold wear reduction over control PE and a 50-fold reduction over M/M or C-CLPE.