Fracture of an alumina ceramic head in total hip arthroplasty

J Arthroplasty. 1995 Dec;10(6):851-4. doi: 10.1016/s0883-5403(05)80086-5.

Abstract

The authors have experienced a fracture in the ceramic head in a total hip arthroplasty in three cases. Two of these were comminuted and the other was a hair-line fissure. A foreign body, perhaps from the operation, existed between the neck of the stem and the head in two cases (one in a comminuted fracture and the other in the fissure fracture). The other case had no foreign body, and, judging from the serial radiographs, the fracture was probably caused by weight-bearing stress. Care must be taken during operation to avoid interposing any foreign body in the modular ceramic head total hip arthroplasty, and the weight-bearing stress factor must be considered as an indication for a ceramic head fracture in young active patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aluminum Oxide*
  • Ceramics*
  • Female
  • Femur Head Necrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur Head Necrosis / surgery*
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnostic imaging
  • Foreign Bodies / surgery
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery*
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Radiography
  • Reoperation
  • Surface Properties
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology

Substances

  • Aluminum Oxide