Abstract
Ceramic on ceramic (CoC) Total Hip Replacement revisions give specific problems and no consensus is made on the way to perform it. The aim of this study was to report the results of THA CoC revisions and to identify the specific concerns.
Between April 2007 and May 2016, 50 consecutive revisions have been performed on average 2.8 years after the THA, in 46 patients (28 males, 18 females) at a mean age of 55 years. The main reasons for revision were loosening (34%), pain without loosening (20%), infection (12%), implant breakage (10%), and instability (8%). There were 41 implant revisions, five revisions without implant change (10%) and four revisions for head change (8%). Revisions were performed without bone reconstruction in 68% of hips and with a CoC couple in 83% of hips.
Three patients have died and three were lost to follow up. There were six intraoperative femoral fractures, one early and two late non−recurrent dislocations. Eight hips (16%) had re−revision with implant replacement. At a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, the mean PMA, Harris and WOMAC scores were 14.8, 72 and 23. 80% of patients were satisfied of the procedure and 89% were ready to re-do the surgery if necessary. 16% of hips experienced a noise. There were no complete lucent lines, no osteolysis, and no implant migration. Wear was not measurable. The 6-year survival rate was 82 % and 90 % if the end-point was implant revision for any cause and for fixation failure, respectively.
CoC THA failure mainly affects a young population and occurs early. Failure is not wear-related but possibly related to inadequate technique. It is often possible to perform THA revision without any bone graft, using standard implants and CoC couple, provided the implants are matched.
