The pathogenesis of osteolysis in two different cementless hip replacements.
Wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene has been incriminated in the osteolysis associated with aseptic loosening of hip implants. A variety of different factors can contribute to accelerated patterns of polyethylene wear and subsequent osteolysis. This paper examines the incidence of osteolysis observed in two different well-matched cohorts of cementless total hip arthroplasties. The patterns of osteolysis observed, which are ascribed to the generation of polyethylene debris, are interpreted with reference to the design of the individual prostheses.