Wear characteristics of ceramic-on-ceramic for hip endoprostheses.

Früh, H J; Willmann, G; Pfaff, H G · Biomaterials · 1997

biomechanical · Level V

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Abstract

Femoral ball heads of aluminium oxide or zirconium oxide ceramics are used for total hip replacement. This application is based on their attractive tribological properties. Standard and state-of-the-art are femoral ball heads made of alumina (Al2O3) articulating against acetabular cups of polyethylene (PE-UHMW) and zirconia (Y-TZP) heads articulating against polyethylene cups. A very attractive wear couple is ceramic-on-ceramic. Some of the various ceramic combinations have been tested using the ring-on-disc method according to ISO 6474. The combination alumina/alumina was found to produce extremely low wear; catastrophic wear was found for the combinations alumina/Y-TZP and Y-TZP/Y-TZP.

Medical subject headings