Hip implant study identifies materials with the lowest risk of needing revision

Medical Xpress / University of Bristol / PLOS Medicine ^ | Nov. 7, 2024 | Dr. Erik Lenguerrand et al

[ConservativeMind]

Hip implants with a delta ceramic or oxidized zirconium head and highly crosslinked polyethylene liner or cup had the lowest risk of revision during the 15 years after surgery, a new study has found. The research could help hospitals, surgeons and patients to choose what hip implant to use for replacement surgery.

The aim of the study was to establish hip implant materials at risk of revision, to help orthopedic surgeons and patients, and to improve shared decision making before surgery by identifying hip implants with the lowest risk of revision.

The researchers analyzed National Joint Registry (NJR) data from 1,026,481 hip replacement patients carried out in the NHS and private sectors in England and Wales for up to 15 years after initial hip replacement operations (between 2003 to 2019).

After reviewing hip implants from the NJR data, the research team found the risk of revision following a hip replacement is influenced by the type of material used in the bearing surface. Bearing surfaces are the moving parts of an artificial hip joint that glide against each other during activity.

The data indicated hip implants with a delta ceramic or oxidized zirconium head and highly crosslinked polyethylene liner or cup had the lowest risk of revision throughout the 15 years following hip replacement surgery.

These findings were confirmed when the research team investigated the specific reasons for revision hip replacements being performed. The data also showed 20,869 (2%) of hip replacement patients had to undergo revision after the initial surgery.

The research was not a randomized controlled trial and therefore it was not possible to control all factors that can influence the risk of revision.

[ConservativeMind]

“The data indicated hip implants with a delta ceramic or oxidized zirconium head and highly crosslinked polyethylene liner or cup had the lowest risk of revision throughout the 15 years following hip replacement surgery.”

[ConservativeMind]

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[ProtectOurFreedom]

My nephew is an excellent biomedical / mechanical engineer with a major medical devices firm. He specializes in developing the tools used by surgeons to install artificial joints. I sent him this article and asked his opinion. Thanks for posting it.

[algore]

I developed a solution to these 40 years ago.

I am shocked no one else has realized how simple it would be.

Had not thought about this in a long time

Thanks

[trebb]

That’s what I got about 10 years ago - I gave up running and started walking and using exercycles in order to reduce impact and give it a better chance to “outlive” me...

[ConservativeMind]

The Abstract shows the zirconium approach was fairly better than the ceramic approach.

“Total Hip Replacements with a delta ceramic (0.79 [0.73, 0.85]) or oxidised zirconium (0.65 [0.55, 0.77]) head and HCLPE liner had a lower risk of revision throughout the entire postoperative period.”

[Thommas]

That's what I got 5 years ago - I continue to run, cycle, and lift weights. My surgeon said to treat the new hip no
differently than the healthy one.

He whimsically said that if it fails after 20 years (doubtful,) he would just have to replace the ball and cap portion.

It is performing at roughly 98% of the original.