Adapter sleeves are essential for ceramic heads in hip revision surgery

Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2020-01
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Falkenberg, Adrian  
Dickinson, Emilie  
Morlock, Michael  
Institut
Biomechanik M-3  
TORE-URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11420/3697
Journal
Clinical biomechanics  
Volume
71
Start Page
1
End Page
4
Citation
Clinical Biomechanics (71): 1-4 (2020-01)
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.10.018
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85073963828
Background: Removing a head during isolated acetabular revision surgery can cause damage to the stem taper surface from extraction tool contact. Implanting a ceramic head on the damaged stem taper might elevate the fracture risk, which can be mitigated with the use of titanium adapter sleeves. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the improved fracture strength of modern generation ceramic heads allows the direct implantation on damaged stem tapers without an adapter sleeve. Methods: Finite element models of taper junctions with and without adapter sleeve were generated. Different stem taper damages were modelled to investigate the influence on the ceramic head fracture load under axial compression. Findings: Heads without adapter sleeves exhibited slightly higher or equal fracture strengths compared with sleeved heads for most scenarios. However, a small metal elevation on the stem taper caused a drastic decrease of the fracture strength if no adapter sleeve was used (−96%). The sleeved head was not influenced by the metal elevation damage. Interpretation: Adapter sleeves are essential to ensure patient safety and prosthesis longevity whenever implanting ceramic heads on used stem tapers.
Subjects
Adapter sleeve
Ceramic heads
Fracture strength
Hip revision surgery
Stem taper damage