Ceramic-ceramic bearing decreases osteolysis: a 20-year study versus ceramic-polyethylene on the contralateral hip.
Although ceramic implants have been in use for many years and they are intended to minimize wear debris it is unknown whether alumina-on-alumina or alumina-on-polyethylene produce less wear and osteolysis. We therefore investigated wear and osteolysis on 28 bilateral arthroplasties (one ceramic-ceramic and the contralateral ceramic-polyethylene) of patients who had survived 20 years without revision and without loosening of either hip. Osteolysis was identified on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs and 3-D volume from CT scans. The number of osteolytic lesions detected with CT scan was higher than with radiographs. The number of lesions was higher on the side with the alumina-PE couple. With a similar length of followup on each side, the surface and the volume of osteolysis were consistently higher on the side with the alumina-PE couple. We found no correlation between the volume of osteolysis and the volume of estimated wear in each couple of friction. Hips with osteolysis had a lower Harris score.
Hernigou
Philippe
P
University Paris XII, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France. philippe.hernigou@wanadoo.fr
Zilber
Sebastien
S
Filippini
Paolo
P
Poignard
Alexandre
A
D000328:Adult; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002516:Ceramics; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020959:Polyethylene