The type of ceramic used in total hip replacement today is aluminum oxide also known as alumina.
Ceramic on ceramic hip replacement bearings.
The aim of this systematic review is to answer three questions.
1 are there risk factors for ceramic component fracture following total hip replacement.
The clinical use of ceramic as a bearing surface dates back to the early 1970s.
Ceramic on ceramic hip prostheses are an increasingly popular choice for hip replacement.
Ceramic bearing surfaces are increasingly used for total hip replacement notwithstanding that concern is still related to ceramic brittleness and its possible mechanical failure.
The alternative bearing couples such as metal on polyethylene and metal on metal are more inclined to wear and produce particulate debris.
Interest in ceramic on ceramic hip replacement is increasing as a result of the realization of osteolysis associated with wear debris generation in conventional metal on polyethylene bearings and metallosis associated with metal on metal articulations.
At present ceramics are used only in the hip because hip components have simple design and shape.
There is minimal dimensional mismatch between the head and cup and there is no translational movement.
At present one million total hip replacements are done worldwide of these about 25 are ceramic on polyethylene and another 10 is ceramic on ceramic.