The Influence of Impingement on the Wear of a Metal-on-Metal Articulation: A Hip Simulator Study

Wear magnitude and location for a metal-on-metal bearing couple were studied on a hip simulator with and without the occurrence of impingement. The steady-state wear increased by a factor thirty due to the impingement and the shape and location of the impingment zone closely resembled clinical observations. Metal-on-metal bearings have the advantage of combining low wear with a high toughness. The low wear is only guaranteed if impingement phenomena are excluded, thus showing the importance of proper implant designs and surgical techniques.