A Simulated Synovial Fluid for Wear Characterization of Artificial Hip Joints by a Hip Joint Simulator

The calf serum solution was defined as the international standard lubricant for wear characterization of artificial hip joints. It is, however, known that its composition varies according to age, manufacturing processes or production areas of bovine cattle, and that the difference in composition has large effect on the wear characterization. It was difficult to compare the results obtained by different laboratories. Therefore, it is desirable to develop an artificial lubricant whose composition can be always set to a specified value as an alternative to bovine serum. In the present study, the effect of each major constituent in bovine serum on wear property was studied by hip simulator. As a result, transparent and stable lubricant solutions were prepared. It showed quite similar wear property to bovine serum by controlling the composition. These results serve as a guide to propose the new lubricant suitable for the wear characterization of hip joint.