What materials are used for the arthroplasty?
In general, all joint replacements use a combination of materials. These generally include cobalt chrome which is a very high-strength hard alloy that is usually used in places where the components are moving one relative to the other. The other metal commonly used is titanium. This is either in a commercially pure form or as an alloy with aluminum and vanadium. The third material utilized in joint replacement arthroplasty is usually ultra high molecular weight polyethylene plastic. This plastic is generally the weak link in the arthroplasty and the material most commonly involved in the process of wear and in the generation of wear debris. Recent improvements, both in the type of plastic used as well as in the processing of the plastic, should result in a reduction in the wear of component inserted currently with those that were inserted five to 10 years ago. Each of the materials in their bulk form has been extensively tested. There has been no documented case of specific allergy to
