Reactions of the articular capsule to wear products of artificial joint prostheses

TLDR

Wear particles from prosthetic joints trigger a foreign‑body reaction that produces granulation tissue and scar capsule thickening, potentially limiting joint mobility. Excessive foreign‑body response can lead to loosening of cemented prosthetic components by eroding bone anchors.

Abstract

Abstract Examination of a great number of tissue samples taken from the newly formed capsules surrounding artificial joints reveals small particles of prosthetic material. Abraded from the joint by wear and tear, these particles of plastic, metal, and acrylic cement initiate a foreign‐body reaction and result in the formation of granulation tissue, including macrophages and foreign‐body giant cells. Typical features of tissue reactions exist for each of the materials from which prostheses are made. The consequent formation of scar tissue produces a thickening of the capsule, which, in turn, may cause a reduction in the mobility of the joint. In small amounts, the foreign‐body particles are eliminated via the perivascular lymph spaces. Where this transport system is insufficient to handle the volume, however, the foreign‐body response may extend to the whole environment surrounding the joint. In such cases, there may be loosening of the cemented prosthetic parts because of deterioration of contiguous bone anchors by the tissue membrane lining the bone cement.