Ceramic-on-Ceramic Bearings for Total Hip Arthroplasty: 5-9 Year Follow-Up

Compared with alternative bearings, alumina ceramics are extremely hard and scratch resistant, have a lower coefficient of friction, and superior wear resistance. Four hundred seventy-five hips were implanted as part of a multicenter prospective study comparing alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearings with a control chrome cobalt-on-polyethylene bearing. At 4- to 9-year follow-up, the alumina ceramic bearings have significantly higher survivorship than the metal-on-polyethylene cohort when revision for any reason is evaluated. No ceramic fracture or alumina ceramic device failures have occurred out to 9 years. Alumina ceramic bearings provide a safe option for the younger and more active patient.

Keywords: alumina, outcomes, fracture, wear resistance