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Mismatched wear couple zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide in total hip arthroplasty
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Publikationsdatum
2001
Sprache
English
Author
Enthalten in
Volume
16
Issue
8
Start Page
1071
End Page
1074
Citation
Journal of Arthroplasty 16 (8): 1071-1074 (2001)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Churchill Livingstone
A patient complained about a squeaking noise in his total hip arthroplasty. Clinical evaluation revealed good function, and there were no signs of loosening on the radiograph. Physiotherapy did not alter this phenomenon, and ultimately a revision was performed 42 months after the first surgery. The analysis of the retrievals revealed that a zirconium oxide ceramic head had been paired with a monolithic alumina ceramic cup. The cup showed large deviations from an ideal sphere but minor wear signs. The head exhibited heavy local damage in the articulation zone. This damage might have been caused by the observed unsatisfactory fit between cup and ball, resulting in high stress concentrations and increased wear of the zirconium head. The characteristics of the zirconium and aluminum ceramics pairing might have worsened the process. The combination of implants used in this retrieved wear couple was never approved. To prevent such problems, components of different manufacturers should never be mixed and matched unless explicitly stated.
Schlagworte
Aluminum oxide
Ceramics
Total hip replacement
Wear
Wear couple
Zirconium oxide
DDC Class
610: Medicine, Health