Recovery of motor deficits after microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation

Abstract

We analysed revised Mathys isoelastic polyacetal femoral stems with stainless-steel heads and polyethylene acetabular cups from eight patients in order to differentiate various types of particle of wear debris. Loosening of isoelastic femoral stems is associated with the formation of polyacetal wear particles as well as those of polyethylene and metal. All three types of particle were isolated simultaneously by tissue digestion followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Polyacetal particles were either elongated, ranging from 10 to 150 μm in size, or shred-like and up to 100 μm in size. Polyethylene particles were elongated or granules, and were typically submicron or micronsized.