The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of femoral head material (delta ceramic versus metal) on polyethylene wear in a consecutive prospective randomized series of low friction total hip arthroplasty.

A total of 110 patients with a mean age of 60.6 ± 9.3 (34–75) years were randomized (power of 90%, alpha of 5%) to receive either a metal (55 hips) or a delta ceramic (55 hips) femoral head. The polyethylene socket was moderately cross-linked (3 Mrads of gamma radiation in nitrogen) and annealed at 130°C in all hips. All other parameters were identical in both groups. The primary criterion for evaluation was linear head penetration measurement using the Martell system, performed by an investigator blinded to the material of the femoral head. Creep and steady state wear values were calculated.

At the minimum of 3-year follow-up, complete data were available for analysis in 38 hips at a median follow-up of 4.4 years (3.0 to 5.7), and in 42 hips at a median follow-up of 4.0 years (3.0 to 5.4) in the metal and delta ceramic groups, respectively. The mean creep, measured as the linear head penetration at one year follow-up, was 0.42 ± 1.0 mm in the metal group versus 0.30 ± 0.81 mm in the delta ceramic group (Mann and Whitney test, p = 0.56). The mean steady state penetration rate from one year onwards measured 0.17 ± 0.44 mm/year (median 0.072) in the metal group versus 0.074 ± 0.44 mm/year (median 0.072) in the delta ceramic group (Mann and Whitney test, p = 0.48). No case of delta ceramic femoral head fracture was recorded, and no hip had signs of periprosthetic osteolysis.

This study demonstrated that up to 5-year follow-up, delta ceramic femoral head did not significantly influence creep neither wear of a contemporary annealed polyethylene. Longer follow-up is necessary to further evaluate the potential clinical benefits of delta ceramic.