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Alumina-on-Alumina in THA

A Multicenter Prospective Study

  • International Hip Society Symposium
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

Different bearing surfaces, including alumina-on-alumina, have been used to avoid osteolysis.

We prospectively followed 288 patients (319 hips) in which an alumina-on-alumina cup was used with a hydroxyapatite stem. The patients’ mean age was 52.7 (range, 14–70 years), and the minimum followup was 3 years (mean, 4.7 years; range, 3–8 years). At final followup, five cups (including one with an alumina liner fracture) and two stems underwent revision. The cumulative probability of not having a revision of one or both components for any cause was 97% (95% confidence interval, 94.7%–99.1%). No patient spontaneously reported any noises from the hip and none reported noises when specifically questioned. All patients who had not undergone revision had good clinical results, but five of these patients had radiographic cup loosening at last followup. These data suggest alumina-on-alumina prostheses had reasonable outcomes after 5 years. One acetabular component fractured from trauma. We observed no linear femoral head penetration. Continued followup will be required to determine if reduction in wear between the alumina-on-alumina bearings results in less osteolysis and loosening.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital la Paz, Pez Austral 13, 5°A, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    Eduardo Garcia-Cimbrelo MD, PhD & Eduardo Garcia-Rey MD, PhD, EBOT

  2. Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Spain

    Antonio Murcia-Mazón MD, PhD

  3. Hospital General Yagüe, Burgos, Spain

    Agustín Blanco-Pozo MD, PhD

  4. Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón, Castellón, Spain

    Eduardo Martí MD

Authors
  1. Eduardo Garcia-Cimbrelo MD, PhD
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  2. Eduardo Garcia-Rey MD, PhD, EBOT
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  3. Antonio Murcia-Mazón MD, PhD
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  4. Agustín Blanco-Pozo MD, PhD
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  5. Eduardo Martí MD
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Correspondence to Eduardo Garcia-Cimbrelo MD, PhD.

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent was obtained.

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Garcia-Cimbrelo, E., Garcia-Rey, E., Murcia-Mazón, A. et al. Alumina-on-Alumina in THA. Clin Orthop Relat Res 466, 309–316 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-007-0042-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-007-0042-1

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