Alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasty: a concise follow-up, at a minimum of ten years, of a previous report

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Jul 21;92(8):1715-9. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.I.01019.

Abstract

We previously reported the five-to-six-year results of the use of third-generation alumina-on-alumina bearings in a consecutive series of 100 primary cementless total hip arthroplasties. This report presents the longer-term outcomes of these same bearings, at a minimum of ten years postoperatively. Eighty-six of eighty-eight hips available for the study retained the original bearings at the time of the latest follow-up. Thirteen hips were associated with noise, and six hips demonstrated fretting of the femoral neck on radiographs. Two hips required a change of the bearings because of a ceramic head fracture. The ten-year survival rate of the alumina-on-alumina total hip prostheses, with revision of any implant for any reason as the end point, was 99.0%. On the basis of those results, we concluded that the rate of survival of primary cementless total hip prostheses with third-generation alumina-on-alumina bearings is excellent at ten years. However, the risk of ceramic fracture, noise, and impingement between the metal neck and the ceramic liner should be a concern to surgeons, and patients should be informed of these risks before surgery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aluminum Oxide
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip*
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hip Joint / surgery
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Aluminum Oxide