Cementless total hip arthroplasty with ceramic-on-ceramic bearing in patients younger than 45 years with femoral-head osteonecrosis

Despite improvements in the quality of alumina ceramics, osteolysis has been reported anecdotally after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with use of a contemporary alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of THA using alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearing and to determine osteolysis using radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans in young patients. Consecutive primary cementless THA using alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearing were performed in 64 patients (93 hips) who were younger than 45 years of age with femoral-head osteonecrosis. There were 55 men (84 hips) and nine women (nine hips). Average age was 38.2 (range 24–45) years. Average follow-up was 11.1 (range 10–13) years. Preoperative Harris Hip Score was 52.9 (range 22–58) points, which improved to 96 (range 85−100) points at the final follow-up examination. Two of 93 hips (2%) had clicking or squeaking sound. No hip had revision or aseptic loosening. Radiographs and CT scans demonstrated that no acetabular or femoral osteolysis was detected in any hip at the latest follow-up. Contemporary cementless acetabular and femoral components with alumina-on-alumina ceramic bearing couples function well with no osteolysis at a ten year minimum and average of 11.1-year follow-up in this series of young patients with femoral-head osteonecrosis.