Primary Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Sandwich Type in Ceramic-Ceramic Articulation (Minimum 10-Year Follow up Results)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the minimum 10-year follow up results of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed using a sandwich-type (alumina-polyethylene-titanium) ceramic bearing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty four patients (40 hips) who underwent a THA with sandwich typed liners from November 1998 to December 2000 were analyzed. Among the 34 patients, 25 were men and nine were women. Mean follow-up was 134 months (range, 120~145 months) and mean patient age at the time of THA was 47.1 years (range, 24~65 years). The clinical results were evaluated using the Harris hip score and level of thigh pain with a limping gait. The radiographic evaluation was done in terms of the endosteal new bone formation, radiolucent line, subsidence of the stem, migration of the acetabular cup, and proof of loosening. RESULTS: The mean preoperative Harris hip score of 50.2 points (range, 31~87 points) was improved to 90.9 points (range, 75~99 points) at the final follow-up and thigh pain with limping gait in one case. All cases had fixation by bony ingrowth. No radiographically detectable loosening was observed in any hip. Fracture of ceramic liner in one case required change of the polyethylene liner. CONCLUSION: At the minimum 10-year follow up, survival rate as the end-point was favorable. However, fracture of the ceramic is still a major problem. Satisfactory results can be obtained by more precise surgical technique for acerabular inclincation and anteversion, and by improving the quality of the ceramic.

Ceramic on Sandwich Ceramic Bearing Primary Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty (Result of 2 to 5 years follow up) / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short term clinical and radiological results of ceramic on sandwich ceramic bearing a primary cementless total hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five hips, which underwent a total hip arthroplasty with sandwich typed liners as an index operation between December 1998 and October 2001 were examined. The mean follow-up period was 34.3 months, and the mean ages at surgery was 56. The clinical results were evaluated using the Harris hip score and the level of thigh pain. In addition, the radiolucent line, the subsidence of the stem, the migration of the acetabular cup, or osteolysis, proving and proof of loosening. RESULTS: The mean preoperative Harris hip score of 51.8 points was improved to 94.3 points at the final follow-up after surgery. Two cases were the fracture of ceramic components in postoperative three year. One of them was a fracture of the ceramic head and the other was a fracture and dislocation of the liner. Radiologically, there was one case of femoral stem subsidence and radiolucent line. CONCLUSION: The minimum 2-year clinical and radiological results of using ceramic sandwich ceramic bearing were satisfactory. However, breakages (fractures) of the ceramics have become an issue. Satisfactory clinical results can be obtained by limiting the acetabular inclination ranges from 40degrees to 45degrees, using a ceramic head with a larger diameter to increase the ratio between the diameter of the femoral head and neck, avoiding the use of a flange, reducing of the diameter of the femoral neck, the use of a thick-rimmed liner and improving the quality of the ceramic set. Therefore, the use of a sandwich ceramic liner needs to be reconsidered.