Abstract
Aims: Todayñs major challenge for total hip arthroplasty is to minimize wear and osteolysis in our younger and more active patients. Alumina ceramic bearings have known superior wear resistance and lubrication and do not carry a risk of ion release. One objective of this clinical study was to evaluate the use of alumina-on-alumina ceramics with proven implants that have had successful track records with regard to þxation (on a prospective randomized basis)Methods: Utilizing new improved alumina ceramic materials and implant design 514 hips were implanted in a multicenter US IDE prospective and randomized study. The study compared alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearings to a cobalt chrome-on-polyethylene bearing. All patients received the same press-þt hydroxylapatite-coated femoral stem while two-thirds (349 hips) received alumina ceramic bearings and one-third (165 hips) received the cobalt chrome-on-polyethylene bearing. Results: With a mean follow-up of greater than 40 months (36–60 months) there is no signiþcant difference in clinical performance between the two patient cohorts. Radiographically proximal femoral osteolysis has been noted in the control patients but in no patients that received the ceramic bearing. With Continued Access, a total of 947 alumina ceramic bearings have been implanted to date. There have been no ceramic fractures or alumina bearing failures. Conclusions: This new alumina-alumina ceramic bearing provides for a safe option for the younger and more active patient population.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
