Quality of Reamed Surface Using Serrated Blades as Compared to a Conventional Acetabular Reamer
Background: Hip arthroplasty requires the preparation of the acetabular cavity to allow a proper contact between the bone and the implant. It is essential to allow osseointegration and long-term stability of the implant. The aim of this study was to conduct experimental testing to evaluate the quality of reamed surfaces using a serrated blade acetabular reamer as compared to a conventional rasp reamer. Method of Approach: Reaming tests were performed on a computerized numerical control tools machine at a rotational speed of 250 rpm and 3 different penetration speeds: 0.20 mm/s, 0.55 mm/s and 0.90 mm/s. For each reamer, a complete semi-hemispherical hole was perforated in 7 polyurethane samples. The reamed surfaces were digitized with a three-dimensional high resolution (40 μm) self-positioning laser scanner to carry out a quantitative analysis of the surface quality. Results: Results demonstrated that the cutting edge and the penetration speed influence the quality of the reamed surface. The serrated blade was found to reduce surface irregularities (ranging between 0.19 mm to 0.21 mm for the conventional rasp and between 0.07 mm and 0.12 mm for the serrated blades), and to reduce inaccuracies on the reamed cavity diameter (0.13 mm ± 0.05mm for the rasps and 0.06 mm ± 0.03mm for the serrated blade). Conclusions: The use of such tool by the surgeon may influence the stability of the acetabular implant and reduce the risks of revision surgery.