Detection of bone particles in the taper connection of modular hip prostheses using Raman spectroscopy and their impact on fatigue failure
- Modular hip prostheses are attractive for fitting the prosthesis to the individual anatomical conditions with a positive impact on the patient's quality of life. Especially for revision when the stem may remain, modular prosthesis are established in surgery. The additional taper interface between the stem and the neck bears the risk of micromotion, resulting in continuous damage of the passivation layer and subsequent fretting corrosion. In the present failure case bone particles in the taper connection between the stem and neck were detected using Raman spectroscopy. These particles caused high local stress on the taper surface, followed by fretting and fatigue cracking of the stem.