Abstract
To avoid polyethylene wear observed in total hip replacement, an alumina-alumina combination has been used since 1977. The aim of this study is to report the results of a hybrid alumina-alumina total hip arthroplasty with a cementless press-fit bulk alumina socket and a cemented titanium alloy stem in 55 patients (62 hips) operated on between 1982 and 1990. The bearing surfaces were a 32-mm alumina head articulating within the alumina socket. Four failures occurred: 3 aseptic loosenings of the socket and 1 femoral head fracture. Considering aseptic loosening as the endpoint, the survival rate was 93.2% after 6 years. At a mean of 72.1 months' follow-up, 92.4% of the surviving hips were graded as very good or good using the Merle d'Aubigné-Postel hip score. Radiolucent lines were observed on the acetabular side in 68.1 of the hips. The future of this interface, which is probably fibrous, remains questionable. With the exception of 1 femoral head fracture, all revisions were related to failure of the bony fixation of the socket, and no problem was encountered related to the alumina-alumina friction coupling. Alumina sockets with other types of cementless fixation have therefore been designed and are presently under clinical investigation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
