Friction and wear of artificial joints: A historical review

In basic research on artificial joints, nowadays most orthopedic surgeons are interested in primary fixation between bone and artificial joints, although problems of friction and wear related to the total hip system were widely discussed as far back as the early 1960s. Since then, devices with polyethylene, especially ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, on metal or alumina in the total hip system (such as the Charnley type), have been the ideal. On the other hand, regarding the possibility of osteolysis caused by polyethylene, reports indicate that metal-on-metal devices in total hip systems have reappeared although they had been almost completely neglected in the recent past. Now it is very important for us reconsider artificial joint motion on the basis of biomechanics. This chapter concerns aspects of friction and wear and lubrication of artificial joints in relation to human joint motion, and discusses present problems and future prospects for artificial joints that produce less wear debris.