Abstract
Y-TZP ball heads were introduced into the market in 1985. Since then these components have had wide diffusion in hip replacements, due to their good mechanical performance and reliability. Namely, only a few papers were published up to year 2000 reporting failures of Y-TZP ball heads. The worldwide recall in August 2001 of some Y-TZP batches changed this situation. This paper analyse the material of a ceramic ball head that fractured in vivo 34 months after surgery. The retrieved fragments were submitted for visual inspection, fractographic analysis by optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and FEG-SEM ceramography analysis. The results obtained show that the hydrothermal stability of the material had only a secondary role in the fracture. The literature reporting on failures of THR making use of Y-TZP ball heads is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. CHRISTEL, A. MEUNIER, J. M. DORLOT, J. M. CROLET, J. WITVOET, L. SEDEL and L. P. BOUTIN, Annals of N.Y. Academy of Science 523 (1988) 234.
C. PICONI and G. MACCAURO, Biomater. 20 (1999) 1.
A. DAMBREVILLE, M. PHILIPPE and A. RAY, Mâitrise Orthop. 78 (1999) 1.
W. RIEGER, in “World Tribology Forum in Arthroplasty”, (Hans Huber, Bern, 2001) p. 283.
B. CALÉS, Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res. 379 (2000) 94.
ISO TC 150/SC 1, Implants for Surgery - Ceramic materials based on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y-TZP), ISO 13356, 1997.
F. F. LANGE, J. Mater. Sci. 17 (1982) 225.
T. T. LEPISTÖ and T. A. MÄNTYLA, in “ Corrosion of glass, ceramics and ceramics superconductors” (Noyes, Park Ridge, NY, 1992) p. 492.
W. BURGER, H. G. RICHTER, C. PICONI, R. VATTERONI, A. CITTADINI and M. BOCCALARI, J. Mater. Science: Mater. Med. 8 (1997) 113.
L. BLAISE, F. VILLERMAUX and B. CALÈS, Key Eng. Mater. 192–195 (2001) 553.
H. TSUBAKINO, R. NOZATO and M. HAMAMOTO, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 74 (1991) 440.
R. P. PITTO, in Proceedings of the 6th World Biomaterials Congress, Workshop 7, Kamuela, May 2000, the Society for Biomaterials, paper n.11.
L. BLAISE, J. D. WEBB, J. M. DROUIN and B. CALÉS, in Proceedings of the 15th ESB Conference, Arcachon, Poster session 3, France, September 1999.
J. H. CALANDRUCCIO and M. T. JOBE, Seminars in Arthop. 82 (1997) 94.
R. J. KOHAL, G. PAPAVASILIOU, P. KAMPOSIORA, A. TRIPODAKIS and J. R. STRUB, Int. J. Prostodont. 15 (2002) 189.
Y. KAKEHASHI, H. LÜTHY, R. NAEF, A. WOHLWEND and A. SCHÄRER, Int. J. Periodont. Rest. Dent. 18 (1998) 587.
W. WEBER and W. RIEGER, Key Eng. Mater. 192–195 (2000) 841.
R. G. LUTHARD, O. SANDKUL and B. REITZ, Eur. J. Prosthodont. Restor. Dent. 7 (1999) 113.
D. SUTTOR, K. BUNKE, S. HOESCHLER, H. HAUPTMANN and G. HERTLEIN, Int. J. Comput. Dent. 4 (2001) 195.
A. E. BIANCHI, M. BOSETTI, G. DOLCI JR, M. T. SBERNA, F. SANFILIPPO and M. CANNAS, J. Appl. Biomat. Biomech. 2 (2004) 143.
G. MACCAURO, C. PICONI, W. BURGER, et al., J. Bone Joint Surg. 86-B (2004) 1192.
CEN TC 184 Advanced Technical Ceramics—EN 623 part 1: Grain size measurement
H. G. RICHTER, Key Eng. Mater. 223 (2002) 157.
K. HARAGUCHI, N. SUGANO, T. NISHII, H. MIKI, K. OKA and H. YOSHIKAWA, J. Bone Joint Surg. 83-B (2001) 996.
P. HERNIGOU and T. BAHRAMI, J. Bone Joint Surg. 85-B (2003) 504.
E. M. SANTOS, S. VOHRA, S. A. CATLEDGE, M. D. MCDENNY, J. LEMONS and K. D. MOORE, J. Arthroplasty 19 (2004) 30S2.
I. C. CLARKE, M. MANAKA, D. GREEN, et al., J. Bone Joint Surg. 85AS4 (2003) 73.
S. A. CATLEDGE, M. COOK, Y. K. VOHRA, E. M. SANTOS, M. MCCLENNY and K. D. MOORE, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 14 (2003) 863.
J. ALLAIN, S. LE MOUEL, D. GOUTAILLIER and M. C.VOISIN, J. Bone Joint Surg. 81-B (1999) 835.
F. LANGLAIS, N. PASSUTTI and P. HERNIGOU, Ann. Orthop. Ouest 32 (2000) 305.
M. HAMMADOUCHE, F. MADI, L. KERNBOULL, J. P. COURPIED and M. KERNBOULL, in “Bioceramics in Joint Arthroplasty” (Thieme, Stuttgart, 1999) p. 96.
J. Y. JENNY, C. BOERI, A. TAVAN and B. SCHLEMMER, Rev. Chir. Orthop. 84S1 (1998) 111.
B. M. WROBLEWSKI, P. D. SINEY, H. NAGAI and P. A. FLEMING, J. Orthop. Science 9 (2004) 253.
T. STEWART, N. FLEMMING, P. D. SINEY, B. M. WROBLEWSKI and J. FISHER, 17th Annual Symp. of the International Soc. For Technology in Arthroplasty, Rome, Italy, 21–25 Sept 2004. poster 31.
T. NAKAMURA, K. TANAKA, J. TAMURA, et al., Key Eng. Mater. 240–242 (2003) 823.
Agence Francaise de Securité des Produits de Santé (AFSSAPS). Mise au point sur les ruptures de têtes de prothèses de hanche en céramique de zircone lots TH. http://agmed.sante.gouv.fr/htm/10/zircone/sommaire/htm, 15 Nov 2002.
C. D. HUMMER, R. H. ROTHMAN and W. J. HOZACK, J. Arthoplasty 10 (1995) 848.
J. M. ARNAUD, J. L. CHARISSOUX, D. SETTON, C. PECOUT, J. F. MECHIN and Y. DUNOYER, 30é Meeting de la Societé Othopédique de l'Ouest, Pont l'Aubée (France, June 1997).
B. CALES, Mâitrise Orthop. 96 (2000) 26.
H. OONISHI, H. AMINO, M. UENO and H. YUNOKI, in “Reliability and long-term results of ceramics in orthopaedics”, (Thieme, Stuttgart, 1999) p. 7.
M. UENO, H. AMINO, M. NISHIDA, S. MASUDA and T. SHIMITOSO, in Proceedings of the 6th World Biomaterials Congress, Workshop 7, Kamuela, May 2000 the Society for Biomaterials, paper n.5.
J. CATON and J. P. BOURALY, in Proceedings of the 6th World Biomaterials Congress, Workshop 7, Kamuela, May 2000 the Society for Biomaterials, paper n.9.
B. CALES, 4é Jounées d'Orthopedie P Teinturier, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 11–12 Oct. 2002.
J. L. MASONIS, R. B. BOURNE, M. D. RIES, R. J. MCCALDEN, A. SALEHI and D. C. KELMAN, J. Arthroplasty 19 (2004) 898.
W. TONG, D. MCNULTY, T. SMITH and P. LI, Key Eng. Mater. 284–286 (2005) 999.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Piconi, C., Maccauro, G., Pilloni, L. et al. On the fracture of a zirconia ball head. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 17, 289–300 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-006-7316-0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-006-7316-0