# Corrosion Induced Hip Implant Failure: Synergistic Interactions of Patient, Mater

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $363,750

## Abstract

Adverse local tissue reactions (ALTRs) in patients with total hip replacements (THRs) are on the rise and are
on par with periprosthetic infection as a major reason for THR failure. Corrosion products generated within
modular junctions of the implants lead to ALTRs; thus, modular junction corrosion is one of the most urgent
topics in joint arthroplasty. The long term goal of this work is to reduce corrosion damage and increase
longevity of THRs by optimizing material quality and surface finish. It is the objective of this application to
identify modes of corrosion that lead to ALTRs and how they depend on material, implant design, surgical
implantation and patient factors. The central hypothesis is that specific corrosion modes can be inhibited by a
homogeneous implant alloy with moderate grain size and optimal synergism between global and local implant
design factors. The rationale underlying the proposed research is that, determining the material microstructure
and surface topography that minimizes corrosion and micromotion will improve modular junctions and reduce
implant failure. We have three specific aims: 1) Identify the material, implant design, surgical implantation and
patient factors that most significantly reduce corrosion damage in modular junctions using a) retrieval analysis
and b) multiscale finite element analysis (FEA); 2) Determine how alloy microstructure affects specific
corrosion modes under a) cyclic load, and b) additional micromotion (fretting), and experimentally and
computationally simulate the effect of ceramic head intervention on the corrosion and mechanical behavior of
these alloys; and 3) Determine how specific modes of corrosion and subsequent corrosion products influence
the occurrence, extent and type of ALTRs (macrophage or lymphocyte dominated). Under aim 1, we will
quantify the extent of corrosion damage on retrieved THRs, and use previously developed multiscale FEA to
determine the material, implant design and surgical implantation factors that minimize corrosion damage, given
differences in the patient. Under aim 2, material samples prepared from the retrieved implants will be used in
crevice- and fretting-corrosion tests to determine the effect of material microstructure on metal ion release.
Experimental tests and FEA will be used to investigate the consequences of surgical intervention with ceramic
femoral heads on damaged stem tapers. Under aim 3, tissue samples and implant surfaces from patients with
macrophage and lymphocyte dominated ALTRs will be analyzed and compared to well-functioning
(postmortem) controls. The experimental approach is innovative because it uses actual implant material
samples, applies more relevant loads and motions which can only be derived by multiscale FEA, and analyzes
the biological impact of corrosion modes using tissue samples from the same retrieved implants. The proposed
research is significant because it will collectively fill a knowledge gap on how corrosion in modula...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9998666
- **Project number:** 5R01AR070181-05
- **Recipient organization:** RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Hannah Jean Lundberg
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $363,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-19 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9998666

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9998666, Corrosion Induced Hip Implant Failure: Synergistic Interactions of Patient, Mater (5R01AR070181-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9998666. Licensed CC0.

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