RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Metal wear particles: What we know, what we do not know, and why JF International Journal of Spine Surgery JO Int J Spine Surg FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery SP 133 OP 142 DO 10.1016/j.esas.2009.11.006 VO 3 IS 4 A1 Billi, Fabrizio A1 Benya, Paul A1 Ebramzadeh, Edward A1 Campbell, Pat A1 Chan, Frank A1 McKellop, Harry A. YR 2009 UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/3/4/133.abstract AB The importance of wear particle characterization for orthopaedic implants has long been established in the hip and knee arthroplasty literature. With the increasing use of motion preservation implants in the spine, the characterization of wear debris, particularly metallic nature, is gaining importance. An accurate morphological analysis of wear particles provides for both a complete characterization of the biocompatibility of the implant material and its wear products, and an in-depth understanding of the wear mechanisms, ion release, and associated corrosive activity related to the wear particles. In this paper, we present an overview of the most commonly-used published protocols for the isolation and characterization of metal wear particles, and highlight the limitations and uncertainties inherent to metal particle analysis.