Alumina ceramic has been used in total hip arthoplasty since the 70’s and, in the last 30 years, a considerable evolution has occurred in designing the microstructural features of this material, taking advantage of improved processing techniques, as the hot isostatic pressing. As a result, a high degree of densification (> 99.5) has been achieved in materials with a high degree of purity and, especially, with a fine grain size ( 2 microns). The surface stress field acting on a femoral head inoperation is not only due to working conditions, but also to unexpected factors, as local impacts on the surface as a result of partial dislocations, formation of debris, etc. These additional factors greatly contribute to activate degradation mechanisms which, unfortunately, may lead to failure of the implant.

In this study, five alumina femoral heads were investigated, which were retrieved from patients after different periods of time. Among those investigated femoral heads, two belonged to a first-generation type of alumina material with a relatively coarse grainsize (average value 8 microns) and were retrieved due to surface degradation after long periods of implantation (19 and 17 years, respectively); the remaining three implants analyzed were instead recently manufactured implants with a fine grain size; they were retrieved after relatively short periods because of different causes as, for example, cup or stem loosening.

Surface stress analysis using the luminescence of Cr3+impurity in alumina was performed on the retrieved femoral heads and a statistical comparison was attempted among implants with different microstructural characteristics. The investigation led to estimate average residual stress and statistical stress distributions as a function of the location on the femoral head.

The analysis was performed both on the very surface and in the sub-surface of the head, using the confocal and the through-focus configurations of the optical spectrometer, respectively. Different statistical distributions of residual stress were observed in alumina femoral heads with different grain sizes and models were created to understand their dependence on processing and surface loading.