CERAMICS FOR TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT - WHAT A SURGEON SHOULD KNOW

Numerous clinical results reported in the literature prove that cerami c femoral heads reduce wear, osteolysis, and revision rates in total h ip replacements (THRs). Femoral heads and cups made out of alumina cer amics were introduced about 25 years ago, and femoral heads made out o f zirconia were introduced about 10 years ago. Today, the wear couples of alumina-on-polyethylene or zirconia-on-polyethylene have become th e standard in THR. The wear couple offering the lowest wear rate is al umina-on-alumina. This article discusses the state of the art and list s advantages as well as problems with the various materials used for p rostheses in THR.