Aims. In metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasties and resurfacings, mechanically induced corrosion can lead to elevated serum metal ions, a local inflammatory response, and formation of pseudotumours, ultimately requiring revision. The size and diametral clearance of anatomical (ADM) and modular (MDM) dual-mobility polyethylene bearings match those of Birmingham hip MoM components. If the acetabular component is satisfactorily positioned, well integrated into the bone, and has no surface damage, this presents the opportunity for revision with exchange of the metal head for ADM/MDM polyethylene bearings without removal of the acetabular component. Methods. Between 2012 and 2020, across two centres, 94 patients underwent revision of Birmingham MoM hip arthroplasties or resurfacings. Mean age was 65.5 years (33 to 87). In 53 patients (56.4%), the acetabular component was retained and dual-mobility bearings were used (DM); in 41 (43.6%) the acetabulum was revised (AR). Patients underwent follow-up of minimum two-years (mean 4.6 (2.1 to 8.5) years). Results. In the DM group, two (3.8%) patients underwent further surgery: one (1.9%) for dislocation and one (1.9%) for infection. In the AR group, four (9.8%) underwent further procedures: two (4.9%) for loosening of the acetabular component and two (4.9%) following dislocations. There were no other dislocations in either group. In the DM group, operating time (68.4 vs 101.5 mins, p < 0.001), postoperative drop in haemoglobin (16.6 vs 27.8 g/L, p < 0.001), and length of stay (1.8 vs 2.4 days, p < 0.001) were significantly lower. There was a significant reduction in serum metal ions postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.001), although there was no difference between groups for this reduction (p = 0.674 (cobalt); p = 0.186 (chromium)). Conclusion. In selected patients with Birmingham MoM hips, where the acetabular component is well-fixed and in a satisfactory position with no surface damage, the metal head can be exchanged for polyethylene ADM/MDM bearings with retention of the acetabular prosthesis. This presents significant benefits, with a shorter procedure and a lower risk of complications. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(6):514–523

Background. Published simulator studies for metal/UHMWPE bearings couples showed that increasing the femoral head diameter by 1 mm increases wear by approximately 10% due to increased contact area. Therefore, there are concerns about increased wear with dual mobility hip bearings. Purpose of the study. The purpose of the study was to compare wear from dual mobility hip bearings to that with traditional fixed bearings. In addition, for the dual mobility bearings, the effect of femoral head material type on the liner wear was also evaluated. Methods. The bearings selected for the study are listed in Table 1. Prior to the start of the test all liners were soaked in lubricant for 48 hours. Hip testing was performed on a Shore Western Orbital Bearing machine in the anatomically oriented position. A simulated gait profile (synchronized at +/-23° biaxial rocking motion) with a minimum/maximum 200/2000N force was applied to the bearings at frequency of 1Hz. The lubricant used for the testing was 25% bovine serum with 0.2 % sodium azide, 20 mMol EDTA and distilled water. The test was interrupted at regular intervals for gravimetric assessment of wear amount. Findings of Study. Figure 1 shows total wear at 3 Mc and wear rates (determined from the slope of the linear regression) for all the groups. At 3 Mc, dual mobility bearings with stainless steel femoral head demonstrated 5% lower wear rate than those articulated against CoCrMo femoral heads. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the observed wear rate due to the femoral head material type. The results from the study also exhibited lower wear and wear rate for dual mobility bearings compared to fixed bearings. Dual mobility bearings with CoCrMo femoral head and stainless steel femoral head demonstrated 17% and 21% lower wear rate when compared to fixed bearings. Although dual mobility bearings possess greater contact area (due to the contact between head-liner and liner-shell compared to only head-liner in fixed bearings), no such increased trend in wear was observed. Conclusions. Dual mobility hip bearings are designed to reduce the risk of dislocation and allow for increased range of motion thus improving joint function and stability. The results from the study demonstrate that dual mobility bearings have comparable wear properties when compared to fixed bearings. For figure/table, please contact authors directly

Aims. The rate of dislocation when traditional single bearing implants are used in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been reported to be between 8% and 10%. The use of dual mobility bearings can reduce this risk to between 0.5% and 2%. Dual mobility bearings are more expensive, and it is not clear if the additional clinical benefits constitute value for money for the payers. We aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of dual mobility compared with single bearings for patients undergoing revision THA. Methods. We developed a Markov model to estimate the expected cost and benefits of dual mobility compared with single bearing implants in patients undergoing revision THA. The rates of revision and further revision were calculated from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, while rates of transition from one health state to another were estimated from the literature, and the data were stratified by sex and age. Implant and healthcare costs were estimated from local procurement prices and national tariffs. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated using published utility estimates for patients undergoing THA. Results. At a minimum five-year follow-up, the use of dual mobility was cost-effective with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of between £3,006 and £18,745/QALY for patients aged < 55 years and between 64 and 75 years, respectively. For those aged > 75 years dual mobility was only cost-effective if the timeline was beyond seven years. The use of dual mobility bearings was cost-saving for patients aged < 75 years and cost-effective for those aged > 75 years if the time horizon was beyond ten years. Conclusion. The use of dual mobility bearings is cost-effective compared with single bearings in patients undergoing revision THA. The younger the patient is, the more likely it is that a dual mobility bearing can be more cost-effective and even cost-saving. The results are affected by the time horizon and cost of bearings for those aged > 75 years. For patients aged > 75 years, the surgeon must decide whether the use of a dual mobility bearing is a viable economic and clinical option. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(9):1128–1135

In metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements or resurfacings, mechanical induced corrosion can lead to a local inflammatory response, pseudo tumours and elevated serum metal ions, requiring revision surgery. The size and diametral clearance of Anatomic (ADM) and Modular (MDM) Dual Mobility bearings matches that of certain MOM components. Presenting the opportunity for revision with exchange of the metal head for ADM/MDM bearings without removal of the acetabular component if it is well-fixed and appropriately positioned. Between 2012 and 2020, across two centres, 94 patients underwent revision of a MoM hip replacement or resurfacing. The mean age was 65.5 (33–87) years. In 53 patients (56.4%), the acetabular component was retained, and dual mobility bearings were used (DM); in 41 (43.6%) the acetabulum was revised (AR). DM was only considered where the acetabular component was satisfactorily positioned and well-integrated into bone, with no surface damage. Patients underwent clinical and radiographic follow-up to at least one-year (mean 42.4 (12–96) months). One (1.1%) patient died before one-year, for reasons unrelated to the surgery. In the DM group, two (3.8%) patients underwent further surgery; one (1.9%) for dislocation and one (1.9%) for infection. In the AR group, four (12.2%) underwent further procedures; two (4.9%) for loosening of the acetabular component and two (4.9%) following dislocations. There were no other dislocations in either group. In the DM group, operative time (68.4 v 101.5 mins, p<0.001), postoperative drop in haemoglobin (16.6 v 27.8 g/L, p<0.001), and length of stay (1.8 v 2.4 days, p<0.001) were significantly lower. There was a significant reduction in serum metal ions postoperatively in both groups (p<0.001 both Cobalt and Chromium) although there was no difference between groups for this reduction (p=0.674 Cobalt; p=0.186 Chromium). In selected patients with MoM hip arthroplasty, where the acetabular component is well-fixed, in a satisfactory position and there is no surface damage, the metal head can be exchanged for ADM/MDM bearings with retention of the acetabular prosthesis. Presenting significant benefits through a less invasive procedure, and a low risk of complications, including dislocation

Expectations for ceramic-on-metal (COM) bearings included (i) optimal lubrication due to smoother ceramic heads (ii), reduction of metal ions due to elimination of CoCr heads, and (iii) ‘differential hardness’ reducing adhesive wear and squeaking (Firkins 2001, Williams 2007). Additional benefits included (iv) use of heads larger than for ceramic-on-ceramic (COC), (v) reduction in taper corrosion and (vi) simulator studies clearly demonstrated metal ions and wear both reduced compared to MOM (Firkins 2001, Williams 2007, Ishida 2007). However, contemporary ‘3rd body wear’ paradigms focused only on metal debris size range 0.025–0.035um (Firkins 2001). Thus, neglected was the effect of hip impingement, provoking release of large metal particles sized 20–200um (Clarke 2013). In this study, we compared COM retrievals using hypotheses that adverse COM cases would demonstrate a combination of (a) steeply inclined cups, (b) liner “edge-loading”, (c) Ti6Al4V contamination on ceramic, and (d) evidence of 3rd-body CoCr wear by large particles. As a case example, this 51-year old female had her metal-polyethylene (MPE) bearing revised to COM in June 2011. She reported no symptoms 1-year post-op, but scans revealed a palpable mass in the inguinal region of left hip. By March 2013 the patient reported mild pain in her hip, which progressed to severe by April 2014. Scans showed a solid and cystic iliopsoas bursitis while cup position had changed from 43o to 73o inclination. Revision was performed in June 2014, her joint tissues were found extensively stained due to metal contamination, and histology described formation of a large pseudotumor. Analysis of retrieved components was by interferometry, SEM and EDS. Detailed maps were made of wear areas in heads and cups and volumetric wear was determined by CMM techniques. This adverse COM example revealed large diametral mismatch (595um) compared to COM controls (75–115um). The ceramic head had a broad polar stripe of CoCr contamination, roughness 0.1–0.3um high. Equatorial ceramic areas showed arrays of thin metal smears that demonstrated elemental Ti and Al. The CoCr liner revealed wear area into cup rim, as “edge loading”, and also featured a focal rim-defect over 18o circumferential arc. Liner scratches were 20um wide and larger, and wear-rate of CoCr liner averaged approximately 50mm3 per year. In contrast, ceramic head had minimal wear. Our study highlights the underappreciated risk of impingement by metallic prosthetic components. Prior studies of ceramic heads showed black metallic smears. With COM we can anticipate that the broad polar smear will be CoCr alloy (wear of liner on head). However, Ti6Al4V smearing on ceramic heads is a notable signpost indicating impingement by the Ti6Al4V acetabular shell. The femoral neck (Ti6Al4V: CoCr), may also be damaged. Release of large metal particles, 1500-times larger than prior predictions, provoke a particularly adverse ‘3rd body wear’ (Halim, 2015). Such cases confirm our four hypotheses, that COM bearings will then fail in a way similar to MOM. In contrast, COC bearings are immune to such impingement and 3rd-body metal damage

Dual-mobility (DM) bearings are effective to mitigate dislocation in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, data on its use for treating dislocation is scarce. Aim of this study was to compare DM bearings, standard bearings and constrained liner (CL) in revision THA for recurrent dislocation and to identify risk factors for re-dislocation. We reviewed 100 consecutive revision THAs performed for dislocation from 2012 and 2019. 45 hips (45%) received a DM construct, while 44 hips (44%) and 11 hips (11%) had a standard bearing and CL, respectively. Rates of re-dislocation, re-revision for dislocation and overall re-revision were compared. Radiographs were assessed for cup positioning, restoration of centre of rotation, leg length and offset. Risk factors for re-dislocation were determined by cox regression analysis. Modified Harris hip scores (mHHS) were calculated. Mean follow-up was 53 months (1 to 103). DM constructs were used more frequently in elderly patients (p=0.011) and hips with abductor deficiency (p< 0.001). The re-dislocation rate was 11.1% for DM bearings compared with 15.9% for standard bearings and 18.2% for CL (p=0.732). Revision-free survival for DM constructs was 83% (95% CI 0.77 – 0.90) compared to 75% (95% CI 0.68 – 0.82) for standard articulations and 71% (95% CI 0.56 – 0.85) for CL (p=0.455). Younger age (HR 0.91; p=0.020), lower comorbidity (HR 0.42; p=0.031), smaller heads (HR 0.80; p=0.041) and cup retention (HR 8.23; p=0.022) were associated with re-dislocation. Radiological analysis did not reveal a relationship between restoration of hip geometry and re-dislocation. mHHS significantly improved from 43.8 points to 65.7 points (p<0.001) with no differences among bearing types. Our findings suggest that DM bearings do not sufficiently prevent dislocation in revision THA for recurrent dislocation. Reconstruction of the abductor complex may play a key role to reduce the burden in these high-risk patients

Introduction. Previous registry studies of ceramic-on-polyethylene (C-PE) and ceramic-on-ceramic (COC) have focused on revision outcomes following primary surgery. Less is known about the effect of ceramic bearings on infection, dislocation, and mortality as outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the Medicare population. We asked (1) does the use of C-PE bearings influence outcomes following THA as compared with metal-on-polyethylene (M-PE); and (2) does the use of COC bearings influence outcomes following THA as compared with M-PE?. Methods. A total of 315,784 elderly Medicare patients (65+) who underwent primary THA between 2005 and 2014 with known bearing types were identified from the Medicare 100% inpatient sample administrative database. Outcomes of interest included relative risk of 90-day readmission, infection, dislocation, revision, or mortality at any time point after primary surgery. Propensity scores were developed to adjust for selection bias in the choice of bearing type at index primary surgery. Cox regression incorporating propensity score stratification (10 levels) was then used to evaluate the impact of bearing surface selection on outcomes, after adjusting for patient-, hospital-, and surgeon-related factors. Results. For primary THA patients treated with C-PE bearings and COC bearings, there was significantly reduced risk of infection relative to M-PE bearings (C-PE Hazard Ratio, HR: 0.86, p=0.001; COC Hazard Ratio, HR: 0.74, p=0.01). For the C-PE cohort, we also observed reduced risk of 90-day readmission (HR: 0.94, p<0.001); dislocation (HR: 0.81, p<0.001); and mortality (HR: 0.92, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in risk of revision for either the C-PE or COC bearing cohorts when compared with M-PE. For the COC cohort, there was no significant difference in readmission, dislocation, or mortality risk. Conclusions. The results indicate that, after adjusting for selection bias and various confounding patient-, surgeon-, and hospital-related factors, Medicare patients treated with primary THA with ceramic bearings exhibit lower risk of infection than those treated with M-PE bearings. In addition, C-PE bearings were associated with lower risk of dislocation and mortality. As in previous registry studies, we found that ceramic bearings have similar revision risk as M-PE bearings in primary THA at between 8 and 9 years of follow-up. The findings of this study support further research into the long-term association between ceramic bearings in primary THA and clinical outcomes

Introduction and Aims. There are many surgical, implant design and patient factors that should be considered in preclinical testing of hip replacement which are not being considered in current standards. The aim of this study was to develop a preclinical testing method that consider surgical positioning, implant design and patient factors and predict the occurrence and severity of edge loading under the combination of such conditions. Then, assess the safety and reliability of the implant by predicting the wear, deformation and damage of the implant bearings under worst case conditions. Methods. Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC, 36mm, BIOLOX. ®. delta, Pinnacle. ®. , DePuy Synthes, UK) and metal-on polyethylene (MoP, 36mm, Marathon®, Pinnacle. ®. , DePuy Synthes, UK) bearings were used for this study on multi-station multi-axis hip joint simulators. Two factors were varied, cup inclination angles (45° and 65°) and translational mismatch between the femoral head and acetabular cup (0, 2, 3 and 4 (mm)). Under each condition for both CoC and MoP bearings, three million cycles of gait cycle testing were completed with wear, deformation and/or damage measurements completed at one million cycle intervals. Other outputs of the study were the level of dynamic separation between the femoral head and acetabular cup during gait, the maximum force at the rim during edge loading when the head was sliding back to the cup confinement. Means and 95% confidence limits were determined and statistical analysis were done using one way ANOVA with significance taken at p<0.05. Results. As the level of mismatch and the cup inclination angle increased, the magnitude of dynamic separation and the force at the rim increased. The level of dynamic separation and the force on the rim correlated with the wear of CoC bearings (R= 0.96). For polyethylene, steeper inclination angle did not significantly increase the wear (p>0.05) however, edge loading under 4mm translational mismatch and steep cup inclination angle did (p<0.01). The combined wear and deformation of the polyethylene liners at the rim increased under larger levels of dynamic separation. Conclusions. The magnitude of dynamic separation and force at the rim were predictive of the severity of edge loading. These parameters can be measured using short term testing (500 cycles). This will determine the effect of variations in surgical positioning, implant design and patient factors on the occurrence and severity of edge loading. Then, the wear, deformation and/or damage on hip replacement bearings can be determined using longer term simulator testing under selected conditions. The short term tests do not only help identify worst case scenarios but may identify the boundary of surgical position under which the implants performance may be considered acceptable. A new approach for preclinical testing of hip replacement was developed:. Stage 1: Short biomechanical tests. : assess the occurrence and severity of edge loading conditions where the outputs are:. Magnitude of medial-lateral dynamic separation. Maximum force under edge loading. Stage 2: Wear assessment. : assess the tribological performance of hip replacement under selected conditions where the outputs are:. Wear rates. Deformation and/or damage on the bearing surface

Introduction. Previous studies of ceramic-on-polyethylene (C-PE) and ceramic-on-ceramic (COC) hip bearings have focused on outcomes following primary surgery. Less is known about the utilization or outcomes of ceramic bearings in revision total hip arthroplasty (R-THA) for the Medicare population in the US. We asked (1) what is the utilization of ceramic bearings for R-THA in the Medicare population and how has it evolved over time; (2) does the use of C-PE bearings influence outcomes following R-THA as compared with metal-on-polyethylene (M-PE); and (3) does the use of COC bearings influence outcomes following R-THA as compared with M-PE?. Methods. A total of 31,809 Medicare patients (aged > 65y) who underwent R-THA between 2005 and 2013 with known bearing types were identified from the Medicare 100% inpatient sample administrative database. Outcomes of interest included relative risk of readmission (90 days) or infection, dislocation, rerevision, or mortality at any time point after revision. Propensity scores were developed to adjust for selection bias in the choice of bearing type at revision surgery. Cox regression incorporating propensity score stratification (10 levels) was then used to evaluate the impact of bearing surface selection on outcomes, after adjusting for patient-, hospital-, and surgeon-related factors. Results. The utilization of C-PE and COC bearings in RHA increased from 5.3% to 26.6% and from 1.8% to 2.5% between 2005 and 2013, respectively. For R-THA patients treated with C-PE bearings, there was reduced risk of 90-day readmission (Hazard Ratio, HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84–0.96, p=0.007). We also observed a trend for reduced risk of infection with C-PE (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.74–1.04) that did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.14). For R-THA patients treated with COC, there was reduced risk of dislocation (Hazard Ratio, HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.99, p=0.04). There was no significant difference in risk of rerevision or mortality for either the C-PE or COC bearing cohorts when compared with M-PE. Discussion. The results indicate that, after adjusting for selection bias and various confounding patient-, surgeon-, and hospital-related factors, Medicare patients treated in a revision scenario with ceramic bearings exhibit similar risk of rerevision, infection, or mortality as those treated with M-PE bearings. Conversely, we found an association between the use of specific ceramic bearings in R-THA and reduced risk of readmission (C-PE) and dislocation (COC). The findings of this study support further research into the association between ceramic bearings in R-THA and lower risk of hospital readmission, dislocation, and, potentially, infection

Acetabular rim damge due to rim impingement is frequently found on retrievals and may be associated with increased wear and contact stresses, instability, and implant loosening of total hip replacement devices. Large X3 bearings (> 36mm) from Stryker have increased implant range of motion and improved polyethylene material (sequentially crosslinked and annealed). A hip simulator wear study was performed with and without femoral neck to acetabular rim impingement to determine the wear performance of these new bearings under aggressive impingement conditions. Two sizes of these new components were tested (36mm with 3.9mm thickness and 40mm with 3.8mm thickness) with two standard sized controls (28mm with 7.9mm thickness in X3 and conventional polyethylene. The 36mm component was chosen to be the largest component utilizing the same shell as the standard 28mm size components while the 40mm component was chosen to be the thinnest bearing currently offered. Impingement significantly increased wear for all bearings (p< 0.05) but no cracking or failures of the rim occurred. Wear rates for all X3 bearings were statistically indifferent under each testing condition despite bearing size and thickness. Average wear rates for X3 bearings were 0.3mm3/million cycles (mc) under standard conditions and 3.5mm3/mc under impingement conditions. Average wear rates for conventional bearings were 19.5mm3/mc under standard conditions and 48.3mm3/mc under impingement conditions. Overall the X3 bearings exhibited a 93% reduction in wear under impingement conditions and 99% reduction in wear under standard conditions. Increased bearing range of motion reduces the chance of impingement. This study shows the simulated outcome even if these larger bearings were to impinge. We conclude that these larger X3 bearings exhibits the same wear performance as standard X3 bearings and significantly superior wear performance compared to conventional polyethylene bearings under standard and impingement conditions

Introduction. Looking for optimal solutions to wear risks evident in total hip arthroplasty (THA), silicon nitride ceramic bearings (Si. 3. N. 4. ) are noted for demanding high-temperature applications such as diesel engines and aerospace bearings. As high-strength ceramic for orthopedic applications, Si. 3. N. 4. offers improved fracture toughness and fracture strength over contemporary aluminas (Al. 2. O. 3. ). Our pilot studies of Si. 3. N. 4. in 28mm diameter THA showed promising results at ISTA meeting of 2007. 1. In this simulator study, we compared the wear resistance of 40mm to 28mm diameter Si. 3. N. 4. bearings. The 28mm and 40mm bearings (Fig. 1) were fabricated from Si. 3. N. 4. powder (Amedica Inc, Salt Lake City, UT). 1. Wear tests run were run at 3kN peak load in an orbital hip simulator (SWM, Monrovia, CA) and. The lubricant was standard bovine serum (Hyclone: diluted to 17 mg/ml protein concentration). Wear was measured by gravimetric method and wear-rates calculated by linear regression. SEM and interferometic microscopic was performed at 3.5-million cycles (3.5Mc) to 12Mc. The simulator was run to 3.5Mc duration with no consistent weight-loss trends. The bearings could show either small positive or negative weight fluctuations in an unpredictable manner (Fig. 2). Surface analysis showed protein layers up to 3μm thick, furrowed due to abrasion by small particles (Fig. 3). The low ceramic wear was camouflaged by protein contaminants alternatively forming and shedding. From 3.5 to 12.8Mc duration we experimented with various detergents and wash-procedures, all to no avail. Protein coatings were also more prevalent on 44 mm heads, likely due to frictional heating by the larger diameter effect. Selected heads were washed with a mild acid solution - the cumulative effect appeared to be removal of some protein layers, but not in a predictable manner. The Si. 3. N. 4. ceramic is used in demanding industrial applications and it is therefore unfortunate that we are yet not able to quantify the actual wear performance of Si. 3. N. 4. / Si. 3. N. 4. bearings (COC). The contaminating protein layers combined with low-wearing silicon nitride obscured the actual wear data. This has also been a problem in prior studies with alumina and zirconia bearings. Considerable challenges still stand in the way of the optimal biomaterials choices that will result in reduced risk of failure while providing extended lifetimes. Thus important issues remain unsolved and call for innovative solutions. Searching for a more effective ‘wear-measurement’ remedy, we noted that abrasive slurries of bone cement (PMMA) used in contemporary simulator studies were effective in promoting adverse wear in polyethylene bearings. These investigations also revealed that PMMA debris did not damage CoCr heads. 2,3. , alumina heads. 4,5. or diffusion-hardened zirconia heads (ZrDH). 6. We can therefore speculate at this ISTA meeting of 2014 that future ceramic wear tests should incorporate PMMA slurries. Here a new hypothesis can be formulated, that PMMA particulates will provide a continual and beneficial removal of contaminating proteins from the ceramic surfaces (see Fig. 3) and thereby aid definition of low-wearing COC bearings such as Si. 3. N. 4. . The application of non-oxide ceramics such as silicon nitride presented here may become a viable alternative for THA designs of next decade

Objectives. Third-body wear is believed to be one trigger for adverse results with metal-on-metal (MOM) bearings. Impingement and subluxation may release metal particles from MOM replacements. We therefore challenged MOM bearings with relevant debris types of cobalt–chrome alloy (CoCr), titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) and polymethylmethacrylate bone cement (PMMA). Methods. Cement flakes (PMMA), CoCr and Ti6Al4V particles (size range 5 µm to 400 µm) were run in a MOM wear simulation. Debris allotments (5 mg) were inserted at ten intervals during the five million cycle (5 Mc) test. . Results. In a clean test phase (0 Mc to 0.8 Mc), lubricants retained their yellow colour. Addition of metal particles at 0.8 Mc turned lubricants black within the first hour of the test and remained so for the duration, while PMMA particles did not change the colour of the lubricant. Rates of wear with PMMA, CoCr and Ti6Al4V debris averaged 0.3 mm. 3. /Mc, 4.1Â mm. 3. /Mc and 6.4 mm. 3. /Mc, respectively. . Conclusions. Metal particles turned simulator lubricants black with rates of wear of MOM bearings an order of magnitude higher than with control PMMA particles. This appeared to model the findings of black, periarticular joint tissues and high CoCr wear in failed MOM replacements. The amount of wear debris produced during a 500 000-cycle interval of gait was 30 to 50 times greater than the weight of triggering particle allotment, indicating that MOM bearings were extremely sensitive to third-body wear. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:29–37

Background. The CoCrMo large bearings had shown a high failure rate, because of metal ion and particle release. Alumina matrix composite (AMC) ball heads have shown to mitigate such phenomena. The aim of this study was to investigate the leaching properties of AMC clinically as well as experimentally. Methods. Two patient groups were compared: a control group (n=15) without any implant (Controls) and 15 Patients with unilateral treatment with Biolox delta ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC). Whole-blood samples of Controls and Patients (after 3 and 12 months from treatment with CoC) were measured by means of trace element analysis using a HR-ICPMS. The leaching behaviour of BIOLOX delta was also analysed in-vitro: five Biolox delta heads and five CoCrMo heads were immersed in serum for seven days at 37°C. Aluminium, cobalt, chromium and strontium were detected based on HR-ICPMS. Results. In Patients, most elements remained below the limit of detection (LoD), except for aluminium and strontium. The aluminium values of Controls were below the LoD (27.2μg/L). The values of Patients after three months show a median of 34.2μg/L and after 12 months 37.1μg/L (p=0,510). Strontium ranged from 39.7μg/L of Controls and 79.6μg/L and 70.7μg/L of Patients, after three and twelve months, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0,322). The leaching experiments showed high amounts of cobalt (177.3μg/L) and chromium (4.2μg/L) released by CoCrMo. Ceramic heads didn't show any significant release. Conclusions. The current study revealed that there was no significant increase of any element in patients with CoC bearings. Metal heads released high values of cobalt in leaching test. As this release occurred even without any joint articulation, as shown in the experiments, surface corrosion seems to be a relevant mechanism in the ion release of metal bearings. A limitation of the study is that Controls differed from Patients within the clinical trial. Level of evidence. III

Introduction. Are there really ‘conventional’ bearings, offering more security and less risk than the ‘alternative’ bearings that feature in the programme?. Alternative, when used as an adjective has 2 meanings:. offering or expressing a choice, as in several alternative plans. different from or functioning outside the usual or conventional:. eg alternative newspaper, alternative rock music, alternative medicine. This paper reviews the elements that make up the bearing couples available today in the developed world, and tests each bearing against these meanings. Materials. what are the alternatives?. The materials available today fall into the following broad families:. Metals. Stainless Steel and Cobalt-Chromium Alloy, are the dominant metals available. There is no variation in the Steel, but the characterisation of the Co-Cr does vary. Several manufacturers use different carbide content for the femoral and acetabular components, and different processes. One has been withdrawn from the market, and others may be at risk of this, although it is not the material itself that seems to be the main issue. Ceramics include alumina and zirconia ceramics. Alumina has been available unchanged for over 40 years, although delta ceramic (a zirconia toughened alumina) has only been available unchanged since 2001, making in available for 10 years. Polymers. a huge range of polyethylenes are now available, with different individual claims. All claim superior wear resistance, and oxidation resistance. More than 20 unique products are available in the EU, each with a proprietary formula giving individual characteristics. Coatings and surface treatments. these are now available today from many companies, who either ceramicise the surface of cobalt chrome or titanium with titanium nitride, or use oxinium (a proprietary product from a single company). Bearing couples. what are the alternatives Symmetric and Asymmetric bearings are currently offered. Symmetric bearings are available for Ceramic on Ceramic and Metal on Metal bearings only. Asymmetric bearings are available with metals, including metal on poly, and metal on peek. Ceramics can couple with metal or polymers. Bearing Sizes. Larger than 32mm should be considered ‘alternative’. The larger metal bearings have seen the start of crevice corrosion at the taper between titanium and Co-Cr, and even between different Co-Cr alloys. This new class of complication seems to be unique to metal femoral heads. Bearing-stem compatibility. Larger metal on metal head bearings have brought an entirely new world of complications. The choices of trunion are mainly twofold: the 12/14 tapers which differ significantly between products, and the V40 taper still used by one manufacturer. Neither was designed for use with a larger diameter head. Conclusions. The use of the word ‘alternative’ implies a ‘standard’ or conventional bearing. Ceramic bearings have changed least, have been immune from the metallosis and crevice corrosion seen with large ball Metal head whether bearing on metal or polyethylene. They also have reassuring long term results. In 2011 they should be considered the standard bearing for the young and active patient. The large diameter metal on highly cross-linked poly bearings should now be considered ‘alternative’

Introduction. Alternative bearings – metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-ceramic bearings have been introduced in the last decade with the aim to diminish wear and, subsequently, aseptic loosening and osteolysis. These bearings were aimed for younger, more active patients. Clinical results which would compare the performance of various alternative and traditional bearings are scarce. Methods. Between January 2000 and December 2002, we performed 487 total hip replacements in 474 patients using three types of bearings: metal-on-metal (MOM), metal-on-polyethylene (MOP), and ceramic-on-ceramic (COC). All patients received the same type of acetabular cup (Bicon-Plus, Plus Orthopedics) and same type of femoral component (SL-Plus, Plus Orthopedics). We used the hospital computer database for the evaluation of patient data and data on revision operations. Results. At a mean follow-up of 8.5 years (range, 6.8 to 9.9 years), eighteen hips were revised. Seventeen revisions were aseptic, and one was septic. The percentage of revision in the whole group was 3.7%. The percentage of revisions for individual groups of bearings varied and ranged from 1.5% in the MOP group, 4.1% in the COC group to 8.7% in the MOM group. Reasons for revisions were analyzed in details. We noticed that the percentage of aseptic loosening differed among the groups, with the MOM group having the highest percentage of revisions due to aseptic loosening. Conclusions. The results obtained for this large series of THRs with the same type of acetabular and femoral components, and differing only in the type of bearing, indicate that the combination of material of acetabular cup and femoral head affect the performance of the hip prosthesis

Introduction. Dislocation is one of the major factors for revision surgery. Current literature states that the usage of larger bearing couples (> 36 mm) have the potential of reducing the risk of dislocation. Smaller ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couples (< 36 mm) have demonstrated very low wear rates. But does the wear behaviour change with increasing diameter? Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare wear rates of larger ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couples for total hip arthroplasty. Materials and Methods. Wear tests according to ISO 14242 with 36, 40 and 44 mm zirconia platelet toughened alumina (ZPTA) bearings were performed in a servo-hydraulic hip simulator. In total, the specimens were loaded up to 5 million cycles. Wear was measured gravimetrically every million cycles. For each diameter three different combinations regarding clearance and roundness were chosen. One combination represented in tolerance parts (70 μm clearance, < 5 μm roundness). The other two combinations represented parts at the lower end and at twice the upper end of the tolerance band regarding clearance and out of specification parts regarding the roundness. Results. In general, ball heads showed higher wear than liners. 44 mm bearings showed highest and 36 mm bearings showed lowest run-in wear rates (Table 1). Except for the 36 mm bearing negligible influence on wear rates caused by the different clearance and roundness was found. The highest linear wear rate was found for the 36 mm bearing having a clearance of 20 μm and a roundness of 15 μm. The smallest linear wear rate was also found for the 36 mm bearing. Here, in tolerance parts were tested. Discussion and Conclusion. Generally, the current study shows extremely low wear rates for ZPTA/ZPTA even for larger diameter bearings. Except for the 36 mm bearing different machining tolerances in the investigated range seem to have only minor effects on the wear rates of larger diameter bearings under ISO 14242 test conditions. The wear rates determined in the current study might be lower in reality due to metal transfer from the tapers and the cups to the ball heads and liners occurring while assembling and disassembling procedures throughout testing. Larger diameter bearings increase range of motion, stability and reduce the risk of impingement. Thus, larger diameter ZPTA bearings have the potential to minimize the dislocation risk while at the same time having maintained the extremely low wear rates of small diameter ceramic articulations

The extension of THR to younger and more demanding patients implies the need of bearings enhancing the implants survival, raising the interest on hard-on-hard bearings (metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-ceramic). The standard bearing diameters in THR range from 7/8in (22,225 mm) to 32 mm. Larger diameter bearings were used by McKee-Farrar and Ring THR a solution that was abandoned after the success of Charnley Low Friction Arthroplasty that offered the advantage of much lower torques at the implant-bone interface, due also to the state-of-the-art of the cementation in the early 1960s. Increasing the diameter of THR bearings offers several advantages in terms of increased stability of the joint, as a larger displacement is necessary to produce the joint subluxation, and for a given neck diameter the risk of impingement is reduced while the prosthesis range of motion is increased. The reduced wear of metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-ceramic bearings has led recently to revitalise the design concept of the early THR designs, and large diameter joints today are available in sizes ranging from 36 to 52 mm. Large metal-on-metal bearings are used mostly in resurfacing prostheses. This surgery, which requires a specific surgical training, is indicated for patients performing physical activity, as those patients are relatively young, and have a long life expectation. This raises-some concerns, as increased cobalt and chromium concentrations were measured in the blood and urine of patients having Metal on Metal bearings and the effect of such high metal concentration in the long time is still unknown, as it is controversial if the metal ions are originated by wear debris of by the corrosion of the implant. Recently 36 mm ceramic on ceramic bearings were introduced in THR as a solutions to overcome many of the problems of metal-on-metal joints. Ceramic-on-ceramic bearings have a 35-year clinical history in THR. The extremely low wear of these joints is well assessed , as well as the extreme biocompatibil-ity of the material and the absence of local and systemic negative reaction to ceramic debris. Besides the enhanced safety of the design of the 36 mm heads, the development of thin ceramic inserts allowed to limit the overall diameter of the cup. It is expected that the use of the new alumina matrix composites will allow to further enhance the performances of large diameter ceramic THR bearings

Summary Statement. The frictional torque of ceramic-on-ceramic bearings tended to increase with increasing the bearings size (32, 48, 56mm). However, the frictional torque was significantly lower than that measured on metal-on-metal bearings under well positioned and well lubricated conditions. Introduction. Larger head size in total hip replacement theoretically provides increased range of motion and enhanced stability. However, there are potential clinical concerns regarding increased frictional torques with large diameter metal-on-metal bearings causing loosening of the acetabular cups and corrosion at the taper. The aim of this study was to determine the frictional torques of large diameter BIOLOX® delta ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. Materials and Methods. The single-station pendulum friction simulator (SimSol, UK) was used to determine the frictional torque of three ceramic-on-ceramic bearing sizes: 32mm and 48mm (DeltaMotion®, DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction, Leeds, UK) and a 56mm prototype design. Four repeats were tested for each bearing size using 100% new-born calf serum, 25% new-born calf serum and water as lubricants. The input profiles were a simplified loading regime with a peak of 2kN and an angular motion of ±25° [1]. The frictional torque was determined under swing phase loads of 25N, 100N or 300N. The bearings were tested under standard conditions where the cup was positioned so the face was horizontal to the loading axis and at an inclination angle equivalent to 65° in vivo. Results. When lubricated with 100% serum, size 48mm bearings showed similar frictional toque to the 32mm bearings (1.5Nm and 1.7Nm respectively, p=0.28), however, the frictional torque of the 56mm prototype design bearings was significantly higher (2.2Nm, p=0.01). When using 25% serum, there was a trend of increased frictional torque (p=0.016) with increased head size; increasing from 1.2 Nm to 1.5 Nm to 1.9 Nm for the 32mm, 48mm, and 56mm bearings respectively. The frictional torque significantly decreased when water was used compared to using new-born calf serum as lubricant. There was no significant difference in the frictional torque between all bearings sizes with water as lubricant, however, there was a trend of increased frictional torque with increased swing phase load. Changing the swing phase load had no influence on the frictional torques obtained for all bearing sizes when using 100% or 25% new-born calf serum. Under a steep inclination angle, the frictional torque for all bearing sizes did not significantly change compared to the flat cup condition. Discussion and Conclusion. The frictional torque tended to increase with increased head size. The highest frictional torque measured in this study was 2.5Nm for the 56mm ceramic-on-ceramic bearing (25% serum, steep cup) compared to 5.3Nm maximum torque measured using the same method for well-positioned and well lubricated 54mm metal-on-metal bearings. The frictional torque for all ceramic-on-ceramic bearing sizes (32mm, 48mm, and 56mm) decreased as the concentration of protein decreased. This was consistent with previous work done on 28mm bearings and the understanding that for ceramic-on-ceramic bearings the adherence of proteins to the surface reduces the effectiveness of lubricant film thickness, thus resulting in higher frictional torques due to the force required to shear the proteins

Introduction and Aims. The 21. st. Century has seen ceramic bearings become an increasingly popular choice in total hip arthroplasty due to their high wear resistance and inert wear debris without osteolysis promising a long term bearing solution. Early ceramic bearings were hindered by fracture but improved manufacturing processes and materials subsequently produced stronger ceramics. These third generation ceramics showed greatly reduced fracture rates but there is limited evidence in the literature reporting their long term survival and wear characteristics. The purpose of this study was to determine osteolysis and survival rates of Alumina ceramic bearings in cementless total hip arthroplasties with a minimum follow-up of 15 years. Methods. We analyzed a series of 301 third-generation alumina-on-alumina cementless primary total hip replacements in 283 patients. The average age of the patients at the time of the arthroplasty was fifty-eight years, 51% were in women and 54% were right sided. All procedures were performed using the same surgical technique and the same implant at a single centre. Patients were followed up at six weeks, one, two, five, ten and 15 years. At 15 years postoperatively 46 patients (17%) had died of unrelated causes and 31 (10.2%) were lost to follow-up. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically. Retrieved bearings were analyzed for wear. Results. At the time of the latest follow-up the mean Harris Hip Score was 94 points and 97% of the patients scored an excellent or good result with less than 4% having moderate residual pain. Radiographically, all patients assessed had evidence of stable bony ingrowth. Minor osteolysis was seen adjacent to 4% of cups and in none of the stems. There were eleven revisions in all, four stem revisions due to periprosthetic fracture, one secondary to aseptic loosening and one to facilitate a femoral shortening osteotomy. One cup was revised for aseptic loosening and one cup was revised for soft tissue impingement. One cup underwent revision due to acetabular osteolysis due to metallosis with some ceramic wear caused by neck impingement. There were two revisions for ceramic fracture, one liner and one femoral head. Overall, the survival rate of the implants for any cause revision was 96% at 15 years, with. The rate of survival of both components, with revision because of aseptic loosening or osteolysis as the end point, was 99% at 15 years. Analysis of retrieved femoral heads identified a median wear rate of 0.2mm3/year. Conclusion. Ceramic bearings were designed to overcome the problem of osteolysis due to wear from polyethylene bearings. This study has shown that Alumina bearings in cementless primary total hip arthroplasty have an excellent survival rate at 15 years with good function, low wear rate and no adverse radiographic changes typical of osteolysis. The fracture rate was low in our study. These findings strongly supporting the use of Ceramic as a bearing choice for the 21. st. Century

Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are a devastating consequence in total hip arthroplasties (THA) with both significant morbidity and sometimes mortality, posing a significant health economic burden. Studies, both clinical and in-vitro have suggested possible reduction in PJI with the use of ceramic bearings. We have investigated the relationship of ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) or metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) bearing surface in affecting outcome of revision surgery after primary THA using data collected from National Joint Registry for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man between 2002 and 2016. We used a competing risk regression model to investigate predictors of each revision outcome, such as infection, dislocation, aseptic revision and all cause revisions. The results were adjusted for age, gender, ASA grade, BMI, indication for surgery, intraoperative complications and implant data. We identified 456,457 THA (228,786 MoP, 128,403 CoC and 99,268 CoP). In a multivariable model, the adjusted risk of revision for PJI was lower with CoC (OR-0.748, p<0.001) and CoP (OR-0.775, p<0.001) when compared to MoP bearing. Additionally there was also a significant reduction in the risk of all cause revision for CoC (OR-0.918, p=0.002) and CoP (0.806, p<0.001), bearings as compared with MoP. The protective effect of ceramic bearing was predominantly seen after two years of implantation with a significant (p<0.0001) reduction of revision for PJI in both CoC (by 42.8%) and CoP (by 41.3%) group. Similarly significant effect was seen for aseptic revision beyond two years and overall all cause revision rate beyond two years reduced by 21.6% for CoC and 27.1% for CoP (p<0.001). Within the limits of registry analysis, this study has demonstrated an association between the use of ceramic bearing and lower rates of revision for all cause revisions especially infection and aseptic loosening. This finding supports the use of ceramic bearings in THA