In vitro wear of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene and vitamin E blended highly cross-linked polyethylene in linked, semiconstrained total elbow replacement prostheses.

The test replicated clinically observed failure modes for CPE devices. The use of VE-HXPE led to an order of magnitude reduction in polyethylene wear. Further clinical evaluation is necessary to determine if this translates into reduced complications of total elbow replacement associated with wear.