Prevention of wear and osteolysis: alumina-on-alumina bearing.

Alumina-on-alumina bearings in total hip replacement have been used for 30 years. Excellent tribologic properties and extra low debris generation could, in theory, provide an answer to osteolysis. A review of the authors' experience with alumina-on-alumina bearings showed that, except in a few bearings that had been loose for a long time, osteolysis was not a problem. Although the cemented titanium stem and the alumina-on-alumina couple were not a problem, fixation of the socket had to be improved. To improve the socket fixation system and to avoid the use of a cemented titanium stem that may have created problems in the long-term, a new design was introduced in 1997. The current authors present the preliminary results of the first 96 hips with cementless fully-coated hydroxyapatite titanium alloy stems and sockets, 32-mm alumina femoral head, and alumina liner, both held with a Morse taper. Ninety-six consecutive hips in 89 patients (57 males, 32 females) with a median age of 46 years (range, 14-72 years) were analyzed. One socket was revised at 4 months because of poor primary stability in a patient with a severe acetabular fracture. One patient experienced a traumatic fracture of the implanted femur 3 weeks after surgery. The mean followup was 16 months (range, 4-38 months). One patient died from rupture of an aneurysm. Ninety-three hips in 86 patients were assessed regarding the clinical and radiologic ratings. Two patients (two hips) were interviewed by telephone. The Merle d'Aubigné rating system was 18 in 65 hips (59 patients), 17 in 25 hips (25 patients), and 16 in three hips (three patients) mainly related to a previous disability including limp, sciatic palsy, or stiffness. Examination of 93 available radiographs revealed no ostelolysis, no radiolucent lines at the last examination, and no subsidence. The level of excellent results, even in this young population, and lack of osteolysis and wear are encouraging, even if the followup is too short to allow any conclusions to be made.