RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of four wear measurement methods using 17 retrieved polyethylene liners previously used in revision hip arthroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Direct measurement was done using a point contact micrometer. Three manual measurement methods and Devane's three dimensional computerized method were compared. RESULT: Dorr's method underestimated wear by 26.2% with a mean error of 0.39 mm. Livermore's method estimated wear to within 22.4%, with a mean error of 0.21 mm, Devane's method estimated wear to within 12.1%, with a mean error of 0.14 mm. The new method (with correction factor adjustment by the Dorr method) estimated wear to within 13.4%, with a mean error of 0.17 mm. CONCLUSION: The new method can more accurately estimate average acetabular cup wear.