Wear in two cases of ceramic on ceramic total hip arthroplasty after 30 years follow up

Abstract

Background: Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings have been in use in total hip replacement (THR) for more than 40 years, with excellent long-term survivorship but concerns over the ceramic-on-ceramic bearings wear persist.There are few studies where they analysed the ceramic-on-ceramic implants retrieved. We wanted to investigate the wear patterns and the surface properties of the CoC first generation THR implants removed. Case description: We have analysed two cases of ceramic head on ceramic liner of Autophor primary THA implanted in active patients and retrieved for aseptic loosening after 34 and 31 years of well function.The sphericity, surface roughness and microtopography was assess by a profilometer and a white light interferometer Scanning electron microscopy of the implant-retrieved surfaces was also perform. Clinical relevance: There is not a published study where retrieved implants of first generation CoC THR after more than 30 years of being implant were analyse. With the results obtained in our study, we have seen that the wear rate of ceramic-on-ceramic THA bearings, even those of the first generation, is low enough to allow a prolonged durability of the implants and offers a long-term survival of the arthroplasty.