Alumina-on-Alumina Articulation in Total Hip Arthroplasty: From Bench-side to Bedside

Hamadouche, Moussa; Meunier, Alain; Nizard, Rémy; Hannouche, Didier; Bizot, Pascal; Sedel, Laurent

doi:10.1053/j.sart.2006.09.006

« Previous Next »Seminars in Arthroplasty
Volume 17, Issue 3 , Pages 125-133, September 2006

Alumina-on-Alumina Articulation in Total Hip Arthroplasty: From Bench-side to Bedside

Moussa Hamadouche, MD, PhD
- Laboratoire de Recherches Orthopédiques (UMR CNRS 7052), Paris, France.
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatoly, Hôpital Lariboisière (University Paris 7), Paris, France.
- Address reprint requests to Moussa Hamadouche, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery, Service A, Centre Hospitalo–Universitaire Cochin–Port Royal, 27 Rue du Faubourg St Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.
Alain Meunier, PhD
- Laboratoire de Recherches Orthopédiques (UMR CNRS 7052), Paris, France.
Rémy Nizard, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery (Service A), Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Cochin- Port Royal (University Paris 5), Paris, France.
Didier Hannouche, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery (Service A), Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Cochin- Port Royal (University Paris 5), Paris, France.
Pascal Bizot, MD
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatoly, Hôpital Lariboisière (University Paris 7), Paris, France.
Laurent Sedel, MD
- Laboratoire de Recherches Orthopédiques (UMR CNRS 7052), Paris, France.
- Department of Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery (Service A), Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Cochin- Port Royal (University Paris 5), Paris, France.

Alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasty has been used for 32 years in Europe. The theoretical advantages of this combination are represented by its remarkable sliding characteristics, its very low wear debris generation, and its improved fracture toughness. These advantages are achieved if the material is properly processed with high density, high purity, and small grains. The authors summarize the results obtained with the alumina-on-alumina combination concerning in vitro and in vivo wear behavior with special emphasis on wear debris characterization and quantification and histological tissue examinations. Alumina-on-alumina seems to be one of the best choices in young and active patients provided that sound socket fixation is maintained in the long term.

Keywords: alumina on alumina, THA, wear debris, outcomes