This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nyffeler, R. W. Articles by Gerber, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nyffeler, R. W. Articles by Gerber, C.

Influence of peg design and cement mantle thickness on pull-out strength of glenoid component pegs

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Zürich, Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland.
² Department of Biomechanics, Sulzer Orthopedics Ltd, Winterthur, Switzerland.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr R. W. Nyffeler.

Fixation of the glenoid component is critical to the outcome of total shoulder arthroplasty. In an in vitro study, we analysed the effect of surface design and thickness of the cement mantle on the pull-out strength of the polyethylene pegs which are considered essential for fixation of cemented glenoid components. The macrostructure and surface of the pegs and the thickness of the cement mantle were studied in human glenoid bone. The lowest pull-out forces, 20 ± 5 N, were for cylindrical pegs with a smooth surface fixed in the glenoid with a thin cement mantle. The highest values, 425 ± 7 N, were for threaded pegs fixed with a thicker cement mantle. Increasing the diameter of the hole into which the peg is inserted from 5.2 to 6.2 mm thereby increasing the thickness of the cement mantle, improved the mean pull-out force for the pegs tested.