Alumina-on-alumina hip replacement. Results and survivorship in young patients

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 658 - 663
• Main Authors: SEDEL, L, KERBOULL, L, CHRISTEL, P, MEUNIER, A, WITVOET, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery 01-07-1990
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alloys; Aluminum - therapeutic use; Aluminum Oxide - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Ceramics - therapeutic use; Female; Hip Prosthesis - mortality; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Osteoarthritis, Hip - mortality; Osteoarthritis, Hip - surgery; Prosthesis Design; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Survival Analysis; Titanium; Human; Prosthesis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Joint; Survival; Hip; Result; Treatment; Surgery; Technique; Alumina; Ceramic materials
• ISSN: 0301-620X; 2044-5377
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.72b4.2380223

Total hip replacement using an alumina head and socket and a titanium alloy stem is evaluated in a series of patients under 50 years of age. Between April 1977 and December 1986, 86 such replacements were performed in 75 patients, but mainly because patients had difficulty travelling from Africa, only 71 hips were followed up adequately; of these, 56 were primary procedures and 15 revisions. Survivorship analysis showed that 98% of the prostheses were retained for 10 years. On clinical and radiological examination 51 of the 71 hips were stable and acceptable, 15 had radiological changes on the acetabular side, and one on the femoral side; four other cases had clinical and radiological changes suggesting impending failure, possibly because fixation of the socket was inadequate. There were no differences between the results of the primary procedures and those of revisions. In these young patients, the results seem better with alumina-on-alumina hips than with other varieties, possibly because of their remarkably low wear.