CERAMIC CUPS FOR TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT .3 . OSSEOINTEGRATION OF MONOLITHIC CERAMIC SOCKETS

The combination of ceramic with ceramic offers the option of minimisin g wear and the need for revision in total hip replacement. At first, u ncemented monolithic ceramic sockets were implanted. Some of these did not prove successful. The prerequisites for fixation of an implant by bony integration are discussed, i.e. the structural and surface compa tibility of an implant. The reasons for the high revision rate associa ted with monolithic ceramic sockets are discussed. Using monolithic ce ramic sockets only contact osteogenesis can in principle be achieved, which does nut suffice for good long-term fixation. In many cases, sof t tissue can be found at the ceramic socket/bone interface, and the ce ramic sockets may as a result migrate and penetrate, creating conditio ns that elevate the rate of wear to unacceptable levels.