Should we use ceramic-on-ceramic coupling with large head in total hip arthroplasty done for displaced femoral neck fracture?

Outcomes of Ceramic Composite in Total Hip Replacement Bearings: A Single-Center Series

Despite the fact that total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgical procedures for treatment of a variety of end-stage hip diseases, the process of osteolysis and implant loosening remains a significant problem, especially in young and high-demand patients. More than 40 years ago, ceramic bearings were introduced due to their mechanical advantage in order to obtain a reduction in wear debris, and due to the conviction that it was possible to minimize friction and wear owing to their mechanical hardness, high chemical stability, surface lubrication by fluids and low friction coefficient. Together with excellent mechanical properties, ceramics have a biological inertness: eventual ceramic debris will lead to a reactive response with a high predominance of fibrocystic cells, rather than macrophagic cells, and absence of giant cells, which is ideal from a biological perspective. As a consequence, they will not trigger the granulomatous reaction necessary to induce periprosthetic osteolysis, and this clearly appears to be of great clinical relevance. In recent years, tribology in manufacturing ceramic components has progressed with significant improvements, owing to the development of the latest generation of ceramic composites that allow for an increased material density and reduced grain size. Currently, ceramic-on-ceramic bearings are considered the attractive counterparts of ceramic- or metal-on-polyethylene ones for patients with a long life expectancy. The aim of this paper is to report the results of total hip replacements performed with a ceramic-on-ceramic articulation made from a ceramic composite in a single center, focusing on its usefulness in specific preoperative diagnosis.

Hip hemiarthroplasty with modular neck: is it useful in residents' learning curve? A prospective clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The number of femoral neck fractures (FNFs) worldwide will drastically increase in the next few decades, reaching 6.3 million by 2050. In the future, therefore, newly-qualified orthopaedic surgeons will treat this kind of injury more frequently than in past decades. This prospective observational study aims to assess whether hip hemiarthroplasty with modular neck, performed via the Hardinge approach, can be safely carried out by orthopaedic residents.

METHODS

Patients referred to our Level I trauma centre, between January 2016 and June 2017, with displaced intra-articular femoral fractures, were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent cemented modular bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty (Profemur Z, MicroPort Orthopedics Inc., Arlington, TN, USA) via the Hardinge approach, with the patient positioned in lateral decubitus. The surgical procedures were performed by the same surgical and anesthesiology team, under spinal anaesthesia. All patients underwent clinical and radiographic follow-up up to 24 months. Complications and re-operations were recorded. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire QUALEFFO-41 and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire. Anteroposterior pelvis x-rays were performed preoperatively, postoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up.

RESULTS

118 patients met the inclusion criteria (male: 50; female: 68; mean age: 74.3 years; range 65-88 years) and were included in the current study. 67 patients out of 118 (56.8%) were managed by senior orthopaedic surgeons (Group A), whereas the remaining 51 patients out of 118 (43.2%) were treated by orthopaedic residents (Group B). Hip hemiarthroplasties performed by senior surgeons showed the prevalent use of straight (short or long) necks, whereas, in surgical procedures performed by residents, there was a significantly higher use of varus/valgus, anteverted or retroverted necks. The overall complication rate was significantly higher in Group-B patients, compared with Group-A patients (p = 0.002). The length of hospital stay and the mean clinical scores at 24 months follow-up showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip hemiarthroplasty with modular neck can be safely employed during the learning curve of orthopaedic residents. Great efforts, however, should be made in future to improve residents' training in the management of FNFs.

Results of 200 Consecutive Ceramic-on-Ceramic Cementless Hip Arthroplasties in Patients Up To 50 Years of Age: A 5-24 Years of Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND

Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings due to their mechanical properties can be used in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) especially in young patients requiring a long-lasting implant. The goal of this study is to analyze the results of a series of 200 consecutive CoC THAs in patients aged 50 years or less at the time of surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on the first 200 consecutive CoC arthroplasties performed using the direct lateral approach on 105 females and 81 males (14 bilateral cases) with an average age of 44.2 (16-50) years. The diagnosis was primary or post-traumatic osteoarthritis in 94 cases, avascular necrosis of the femoral head in 47, displaced intracapsular femoral neck fracture in 29, osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip/Legg-Calvè-Perthes disease/slipped capital femoral epiphysis in 20, and rheumatic diseases in 10 cases. The preoperative Harris Hip Score was 32.5 on average (range 15-55). All the implants were cementless. In 177 THAs the coupling was alumina-on-alumina, and in 23 cases the coupling was AMC-on-AMC (alumina matrix composite).

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients with 28 THAs were lost at the final follow-up, 2 stems were revised due to subsidence, 1 cup was revised due to malposition, 1 femoral head was changed because of impingement, and 1 THA was revised for periprosthetic infection. Three patients sustained a Vancouver B1 periprosthetic femoral fracture. At the final follow-up (mean 14.9 years; minimum 5 years to maximum 24 years), 172 THAs were eligible for clinical and radiographic evaluation: none was revised for wear and/or breakage of the ceramic components. Harris Hip Score rose up to a mean value of 90.1 (52-100).

CONCLUSION

The present report demonstrates that CoC coupling offers excellent long-term results in THA performed in young patients with very low wear and no adverse effects caused by the material.

A minimum 20-year outcome of 100 consecutive alumina-on-alumina arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon

BACKGROUND:

Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) is currently a viable bearing combination in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and, due to its mechanical properties, it can be used in young patients requiring a long-lasting implant. The aim of this study is to report the results of a series of CoC THAs at a minimum 20 years follow-up.

METHODS:

A retrospective study was conducted on the 1st 100 consecutive alumina-on-alumina arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon on 51 females and 40 males with an average age of 60.7 years. The mean preoperative Harris Hip Score was 35. The press-fit cup consisted of a pure titanium core with a titanium alloy mesh. Both the inlay and the head were made of dense polycrystalline surgical-grade alumina. The 32-mm femoral head was anchored on 3 different femoral components.

RESULTS:

19 patients with 22 THAs were died or lost, 2 anatomic cementless stems were revised due to sinking, 1 THA was revised for periprosthetic infection. 2 patients sustained a Vancouver B1 periprosthetic femoral fracture. None of the 78 THAs eligible for this study were revised for wear, breakage, noise of the ceramic components. None of the cups, none of the cemented stems, none of the cementless straight stems failed. HHS raised up to a mean value of 95.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present report demonstrates that CoC coupling offers minimal wear at a long-term follow-up. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the modern ceramic composites will confirm such excellent results in total hip replacement.