Surface micro-analyses of long-term worn retrieved “Osteal™” alumina ceramic total hip replacement

Biotribology in Arthroplasty: Worn Surfaces Investigation on Ceramic Hip Femoral Heads Considering Wettability

Ceramic-on-ceramic bearings for total hip replacement are considered the best choice to avoid problems such as osteolysis and wear, mainly related to soft bearings. The aim of this work was to investigate in a comparative way different kinds of ceramic femoral heads for total hip replacements from a biotribological point of view, discussing the results obtained in terms of topographies, presence of metal transfer (MT) phenomena, and wettability on their worn surfaces in a tribological framework. Different ceramic femoral heads derived from in vitro wear tests, retrieved form patients, and brand new total hip replacements were investigated. The patients group had an average age of 60 years (ranging from 27 to 83). In most cases, the cause of failure was aseptic loosening of the acetabular component. Roughness analyses were performed to measure the tribological surface evolution of the material; an SEM and EDS investigation on the explanted heads proves and quantified MT, while the wettability was measured through a novel optical laboratory set-up with the aim to furnish useful data in the framework of synovial lubrication phenomena acting in the tribosystem. For the average roughness measurements on explanted specimens were considered three parameters (Ra = the average area between the roughness profile and its mean line; Rt = the vertical distance from the deepest valley to the highest peak of the roughness profile; and Rsk = it is the skewness and it is a measure of the asymmetry of the amplitude distribution function. In other words, the skewness indicates whether a surface is dominated by peaks or by valleys) and their values were: Ra 0.22 ± 0.12 μm, Rt 34.5 ± 13.5 μm and Rsk −0.01 ± 11.3; on the new specimens we measured Ra 0.01 ± 0.001 μm, Rt 0.12 ± 0.09 μm, and Rsk = 5.67 ± 8.7; for the in vitro specimens they were Ra 0.05 ± 0.12 μm, Rt 0.71 ± 1.4 μm and Rsk 7.73 ± 20.6. The wettability angle measurements showed hydrophilic surfaces for all femoral heads considered in this study with small differences between the three investigated categories, allowing to discuss their effects on the biobearings’ lubrication phenomena.

Risk of impingement and third-body abrasion with 28-mm metal-on-metal bearings

BACKGROUND

Concerns have been raised about the sequelae of metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, retrieval studies, which offer the best insight into the clinically relevant mechanisms of MoM wear, have followed predictable trends to date such as indicting cobalt-chromium (CoCr) metallurgy, cup design, high conformity between the head and cup, "steep cups," "microseparation," and "edge wear."

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We wished to evaluate a set of retrieved 28-mm MoM THA for signs of (1) cup-to-stem impingement; (2) normal wear pattern and concomitant stripe damage on femoral heads that would signify adverse wear mechanics; and (3) well-defined evidence of third-body scratches on bearings that would indicate large abrasive particles had circulated the joint space.

METHODS

Ten 28-mm MOM retrievals were selected on the basis that femoral stems were included. Revision surgeries at 3 to 8 years were for pain, osteolysis, and cup loosening. CoCr stems and the MoM bearings were produced by one vendor and Ti6Al4V stems by a second vendor. All but two cases had been fixed with bone cement. We looked for patterns of normal wear and impingement signs on femoral necks and cup rims. We looked for adverse wear defined as stripe damage that was visually apparent on each bearing. Wear patterns were examined microscopically to determine the nature of abrasions and signs of metal transfer. Graphical models recreated femoral neck and cup designs to precisely correlate impingement sites on femoral necks to cup positions and head stripe patterns.

RESULTS

The evidence revealed that all CoCr cup liners had impinged on either anterior or posterior facets of femoral necks. Liner impingement at the most proximal neck notch occurred with the head well located and impingement at the distal notch occurred with the head rotated 5 mm out of the cup. The hip gained 20° motion by such a subluxation maneuver with this THA design. All heads had stripe wear, the basal and polar stripes coinciding with cup impingement sites. Analysis of stripe damage revealed 40 to 100-μm wide scratches created by large particles ploughing across bearing surfaces. The association of stripe wear with evidence of neck notching implicated impingement as the root cause, the outcome being the aggressive third-body wear.

CONCLUSIONS

We found consistent evidence of impingement, abnormal stripe damage, and evidence of third-body abrasive wear in a small sample of one type of 28-mm MoM design. Impingement models demonstrated that 28-mm heads could lever 20° out of the liners. Although other studies continue to show good success with 28-mm MoM bearings, their use has been discontinued at La Pitie Hospital.

Alumina-on-alumina hip implants

Alumina–alumina bearings are among the most resistant to wear in total hip replacement. Examination of their surfaces is one way of comparing damage caused by wear of hip joints simulated in vitro to that seen in explanted bearings. The aim of this study was to determine whether second-generation ceramic bearings exhibited a better pattern of wear than those reported in the literature for first-generation bearings. We considered both macro- and microscopic findings.

We found that long-term alumina wear in association with a loose acetabular component could be categorised into three groups. Of 20 specimens, four had ‘low wear’, eight ‘crescent wear’ and eight ‘severe wear’, which was characterised by a change in the physical shape of the bearing and a loss of volume. This suggests that the wear in alumina–alumina bearings in association with a loose acetabular component may be variable in pattern, and may explain, in part, why the wear of a ceramic head in vivo may be greater than that seen after in vitro testing.

Occurrence of noise in alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasty. A survey on 284 consecutive hips

BACKGROUND

Alumina-on-alumina bearings have been accepted as a valuable alternative for young and active patients. Alumina fractures, and socket loosening were the main complications reported. But, with the increasing number of prostheses implanted, noise occurrence appeared as a new concern. The primary aim of the present study was to quantify the prevalence of noticing noise in a population having received alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasty as well as its eventual impact on outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and eighty-four ceramic-on-ceramic hips were performed in 238 patients from January 2003 to December 2004. The average age was 52.4 ± 13.4 years (range, 13 to 74 years). All the hips received the same prosthesis (Ceraver-Osteal™) with alumina bearing components (Ceraver-Osteal™): 32 mm liners were used for cups of 50mm or larger and 28 mm liners for cups smaller than 48 mm; the minimal alumina thickness was 6mm. The acetabular component (Cerafit™) was hemispherical, coated with a hydroxyapatite layer and press-fit fixed. The stem (Cerafit™) was a straight tapered cementless stem, fully coated with a hydroxyapatite layer. Clearance between femoral head and liner was between 20 and 50 microns. A retrospective survey was conducted by an independent surgeon who did not participate to surgery in 2007. He conducted phone interviews of patients using a standard questionnaire. No suggestion was offered on how they could describe the noise and they felt free to use the word that they considered to be the most adapted. Satisfaction was evaluated. When the noise was present, X-rays were taken to assess if sign of bearings fracture was present.

RESULTS

Four patients (six hips) died of unrelated causes during the follow-up period. Three patients (three hips) live outside France and could not be followed (1.3%). Nine patients (10 hips) could not be traced and were considered lost to follow-up (3.8%). Two hundred and twenty-two patients with 265 hips, therefore, were included (nine using bearing components in 28 mm diameter and 265 in 32 mm). Twenty-eight hips experienced noise generation (10.6%). It was defined as a snap for six patients, as a cracking sound by six, as rustling by six patients, as a squeaking by seven patients (2.6%), a tinkling by two patients, one patient was unable to define the sound she felt. No factor related to the patient influenced the occurrence of noise. Twelve patients were dissatisfied with the result of their hip prosthesis, five of them experienced noise (41.7%); 210 were satisfied or very satisfied, 23 of them experiencing noise (11%); this difference was significant (P=0.002).

CONCLUSION

The origins of noise occurrence are unknown. Squeaking may be related to generation of stripe wear and absence of sufficient lubrication. Other types of noise can be due to microseparation, occult dislocation, impingement between the femoral neck and the acetabular rim.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV. Retrospective study.