A 10-year double-blinded RCT (n=122) comparing highly cross-linked polyethylene (Marathon/XLPE) to conventional UHMWPE (Enduron) acetabular liners in primary THA, measuring in vivo wear rates, osteolysis prevalence, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes.
When selecting a bearing surface for primary THA, this Level I RCT directly supports XLPE over conventional UHMWPE: the reduction in wear is not merely radiographic — it translates to a 7.7-percentage-point absolute reduction in revision risk at 10 years, a difference that will compound further in younger patients with longer implant life expectancy.
A 10-year double-blinded RCT (n=122) comparing highly cross-linked polyethylene (Marathon/XLPE) to conventional UHMWPE (Enduron) acetabular liners in primary THA, measuring in vivo wear rates, osteolysis prevalence, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes.
When selecting a bearing surface for primary THA, this Level I RCT directly supports XLPE over conventional UHMWPE: the reduction in wear is not merely radiographic — it translates to a 7.7-percentage-point absolute reduction in revision risk at 10 years, a difference that will compound further in younger patients with longer implant life expectancy.