A prosthetic bearing element and a method for forming the same includes an
injection molded bearing made of PEEK resin with short carbon fiber
reinforcement. The inner surface of the PEEK bearing is adapted to
receive a ceramic or metal articulation component. The outer surface of
the bearing layer includes sputtered titanium particles forming a porous
backing layer. Hydroxyapatite is then sputtered or otherwise deposited
onto the titanium backing layer to form an outer surface of the
prosthetic bearing element. A barrier layer can be formed either of PEEK
or titanium which layer is between the outer surface of the molded
bearing and the inner surface of the porous structure. The barrier layer
prevents tissue ingrowth into the bearing component. Hydroxyapatite is
then sputtered onto the outer porous layer or applied by solution
deposition. This outer surface of the prosthetic bearing element can then
be coated with bone morphogenic protein.