Dislocation is one of the leading causes of revision after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Polyethylene wear is one of the risk factors for late dislocations (>2 years). It can induce an inflammatory response resulting in distension and thinning of the pseudocapsule, predisposing the hip to dislocation. Alternatively, eccentric seating of the femoral head in a worn out socket may result in an asymmetric excursion arc predisposing the hip to impingement, levering out and dislocation. Highly cross linked polyethylene has a significantly lower wear rate as compared to conventional polyethylene. Incidence of late dislocations has been shown to be significantly greater with conventional polyethylene bearings as compared to ceramic bearings. However, there is no literature comparing the risk of dislocation between ceramic- on- ceramic (CoC) bearings with metal/ceramic- on- cross linked polyethylene (M/CoP) bearings and this was the aim our study Data regarding revision for dislocation after primary THA for osteoarthritis (OA) between September 1999 and December 2013 was obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOA NJRR). Revision risk for dislocation was compared between CoC, CoP, and MoP bearings. Only those THAs with 28 mm, 32 mm, or 36 mm heads were included in the study.Introduction
Methods
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) using the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) is a muscle sparing approach which promotes early mobilisation of patients. It is a technically challenging approach shown to have a high rate of complications, especially during the learning curve. Here we present the results of 157 cases of THA via a DAA on a standard theatre table, with a minimum of 6 months follow-up. The authors conducted a prospective study on a group of 149 consecutive patients undergoing 157 cementless primary THAs for coxarthrosis, 8 bilateral. The same surgical technique was used in all patients, performed by the senior author WLW at a single centre. The average age of the patients at time of surgery was 69 years, 78% were female and 57% were right sided. All implants were uncemented, with bearings being ceramic on ceramic or Ceramic on highly cross-linked polyethylene. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically pre- and post-operatively at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 and 2 years. Intra-operatively, navigation was used to guide cup position and assess offset and leg length.Background
Materials & Methods
The 21st Century has seen ceramic bearings become an increasingly popular choice in total hip arthroplasty due to their high wear resistance and inert wear debris without osteolysis promising a long term bearing solution. Early ceramic bearings were hindered by fracture but improved manufacturing processes and materials subsequently produced stronger ceramics. These third generation ceramics showed greatly reduced fracture rates but there is limited evidence in the literature reporting their long term survival and wear characteristics. The purpose of this study was to determine osteolysis and survival rates of Alumina ceramic bearings in cementless total hip arthroplasties with a minimum follow-up of 15 years. We analyzed a series of 301 third-generation alumina-on-alumina cementless primary total hip replacements in 283 patients. The average age of the patients at the time of the arthroplasty was fifty-eight years, 51% were in women and 54% were right sided. All procedures were performed using the same surgical technique and the same implant at a single centre. Patients were followed up at six weeks, one, two, five, ten and 15 years. At 15 years postoperatively 46 patients (17%) had died of unrelated causes and 31 (10.2%) were lost to follow-up. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically. Retrieved bearings were analyzed for wear.Introduction and Aims
Methods
The aim of this study is to investigate whether Metal-on-Metal (MoM) implants result in more chromosome aberrations and increased blood metal ions post-operatively when compared to Metal-on-Polyethylene (MoP) implants. Metal-on-metal arthroplasties are being inserted in increasing numbers of younger patients due to the increased durability and reduced requirement for revision in these implants. Recent studies have raised many concerns over possible genotoxicity of MoM implants. This is a prospective study of patients who have undergone elective total hip replacement, they were selected and then randomised into two groups. Group A received a MoP implant and group B received a MoM implant. Patients are reviewed pre-operatively (control group), at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-operatively. On each occasion blood tests are taken to quantify metal ion levels (chromium, cobalt, titanium, nickel and vanadium) using HR-ICPMS method and chromosome aberrations in T lymphocytes using 24 colour fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). 53 patients have been recruited to date. 24 of whom had MoP prosthesis and 29 a MoM. 37 of these have had their one year follow-up with blood analysis and 14 have had 2 year follow up. Cobalt and chromium concentration increased during the first 6 months in both MoM and MoP groups, in the MoM group the chromium levels were twice that of MoP group and 12x that of the preoperative samples. Chromosome aberrations occurred in both groups. At 6 months both the MoM and MoP groups showed increase frequency of aneuploidy aberrations with further increases after one year. Structural damage in the form of translocations occurred in the MoM group after one year, but not in the MoP group, by two years there was a profound increase in translocations Preliminary results of this study show that the levels of chromium and cobalt are significantly higher in the MoM group compared to the MoP group. This corresponds to increases in chromosome aberrations in the groups with increases in structural chromosome damage after two years.
