Abstract
McKee-Farrar, Charnley and Muller prostheses have been studied in a hip function simulator using a range of silicone fluids as lubricants. Frictional resistance was measured continuously while the joints were subjected to dynamic loading.
It was observed that the lubricant viscosity was very important to the mode of lubrication prevailing and that for viscosities in excess of 0.1 Pas, full fluid film lubrication was achieved. At viscosities which were less than this, mixed lubrication resulted
These results can be extrapolated to the clinical situation where it was found that after hip surgery for total joint replacement, the synovial fluid produced around the prosthesis had a viscosity which was less than 0.1 Pas, and therefore could not give the most advantageous lubrication in these joints in vivo.
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