INGROWTH SURFACES - PLASMA SPRAY COATING TO TITANIUM-ALLOY HIP REPLACEMENTS

Plasma spray coatings on titanium alloy total hip replacements (THRs) provide a viable alternative to sintered bead or diffusion-bonded fibe r metal ingrowth surfaces. The plasma spray process enables the titani um alloy implant to retain 90% of its fatigue strength, as opposed to less than 50% for sintered or diffusion-bonded cementless devices. Lab oratory and clinical evidence suggest that plasma spray cementless THR s perform as well, if not better, than other cementless implants. Clin ical trials have demonstrated the superiority of a plasma spray cement less THR (Mallory-Head) over a sintered bead cementless THR (PCA) and the equivalent results to a cemented THR. Plasma spray coatings on tit anium alloy hip replacements provide a safe, predictable coating for c ementless fixation of THRs in the short to medium range of follow-up p eriods.