AN ANALYSIS OF FOOD-AND-DRUG-ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL DEVICE REPORTS RELATING TO TOTAL JOINT COMPONENTS

A total of 1,717 total hip and 2,769 total knee medical device reports submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 1984 th rough 1993 were reviewed. A large percentage of total hip complication s could be attributed to some aspect of component modularity. Cementle ss modular acetabular components were the single largest source of dev ice-related complications. Fifty-six percent of total knee medical dev ice reports (MDRs) were associated with accelerated polyethylene wear. By location, MDRs identified patellar (46%), tibial (33%), and femora l (5%) component complications. It was estimated that less than 5% of device-related complications were reported to the FDA. Based on the re ports received, it was apparent that mechanical failure of components was a common and increasing cause of total joint revision.