Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Patients less than 60 years old have been reported to have a higher risk of revision following total hip arthroplasty (THA) than older patient cohorts, possibly to due higher activity, a higher incidence of deformity and greater probability of prior surgery. Ceramic-on-ceramic bearing surfaces have been proposed for use in young and active individuals due to their low wear, low risk of adverse biologic reaction, and long-term survivorship. We assessed the clinical results and long-term survivorship of uncemented ceramic-on-ceramic THA in a young patient population.
METHODS
For the six year period from May 1999 to March 2005, 278 hip replacements in 244 patients less than 60 yeas of age at the time of surgery were performed using alumina ceramic-ceramic bearings. All hips had uncemented titanium femoral and acetabular components. The ceramic liner was fixed to the shell with an 18-degree flush-mounted taper design. Patients were followed clinically and radiographically. Attempts were made to contact all patients who had not been seen in the prior 3 years. Of the 278 hips, 17 hips (16 patients) remain lost to follow-up, leaving 261 hips (228 patients; 155 hips in men, 106 hips in women) for assessment. Mean age of the patients was 46.2 years at the time of surgery (range 17.8 to 59.9 years). 17% of hips had at least one previous hip surgery. Mean time following surgery was 9.75 years (range 2 to 16.8 years).
RESULTS
At mean 9.75 year follow-up, none of these 261 hips experienced early or late deep infection or dislocation. Four patients died of causes unrelated to their arthroplasty at a mean of 6.1 years, all with well functioning constructs. Nine hips (3%) were revised: 2 stems and 2 cups failed to osseointegrate; 1 modular neck component sustained a modular neck fracture; and ceramic fracture occurred in 1 femoral head and 3 liners. Three of the 4 patients with fracture sustained severe trauma from life-threatening injuries.
CONCLUSION
Total hip arthroplasty in young patients demonstrates excellent survivorship when uncemented titanium implants are coupled with ceramic-ceramic bearings.
