Does the clearance between articulating components play a role in wear debris generation?
Absolutely! This is probably the most influential factor in wear behavior. The proper clearance is essential for entrapping the synovial fluid between the articulating surfaces. This fluid is largely responsible for separating the surfaces while the joint is in motion, thereby reducing wear. If the gap between components is too small or too large, there is a sharp increase in wear rates.12 A study conducted by Isaac, Dowson and others (DePuy International, Leeds, UK) compared wrought and as-cast components with various clearances between those two groups. The results of the hip simulator study strongly indicated that clearance plays a major role in wear rates and that “wear appears to be relatively insensitive to changes in materials that have similar chemical compositions but different microstructures.”20 4.) Does the CONSERVE® PLUS acetabular shell with the big femoral head use the same clearance for all sizes? No. The clearance between components is size-dependent. The larger the di
