Ceramic-on-Ceramic Total Hip Arthroplasty for Avascular Necrosis: 13-Year Average Follow-Up of Patients Under 50 Years Old

Abstract

The long-term survival of ceramic-on-ceramic bearings in young, active patients with osteonecrosis undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) is unknown. A previously published study demonstrated a high activity level in these young patients at 5-year follow-up, and this is a second follow-up report on this previously reported series. The purpose of this study is to determine whether high activity level is associated with ceramic-on-ceramic THA failure at long-term follow-up. This is a retrospective review of a single-surgeon consecutive series of index cases performed between 2003 and 2010. Inclusion criteria were ceramic-on-ceramic THA articulations in patients younger than 50 with a diagnosis of osteonecrosis. Mean follow-up was 12.5 years (range 9–17). Data were collected by survey via mail, telephone, e-mail, and social media. Preoperative and postoperative Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) Arthritis Index and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scores were collected. Student t-tests were used as appropriate. There were 97 patients in this series. Mean age at THA was 36 (range 14–50). Since the prior report, four more patients have been confirmed deceased, and four more have been lost to follow-up. We confirmed that six patients were deceased and 42 were otherwise lost to follow-up. The response rate was 54%. The vast majority of patients were highly active at latest follow-up (73% with UCLA scores between 7 and 10). UCLA scores (1–10 scale) improved from a preoperative mean of 3.4 to postoperative 7.1 (p < 0.001). WOMAC scores (1–100 scale) increased from preoperative mean of 38.7 to postoperative 86.1 (p < 0.001). At latest follow-up, four patients had undergone revision surgery. There were no ceramic component failures. One patient underwent early revision for femoral component loosening, one was revised for chronic pain at another institution. Since the prior report there have been two additional revisions; one patient was revised for instability at 5-year postop, and one patient was revised for periprosthetic fracture at 10 years. Despite additional loss to follow-up and lack of clinical and radiographic measures, this survey study suggests that at long-term follow-up ceramic bearings accommodate high activity level with excellent component survivorship (93%) in young patients undergoing THA.