Abstract
Ceramic-on-ceramic bearing surface has been used since 1970, mostly in Europe, to improve the wear resistance and longer life expectancy of the total hip prosthesis. In our country, KYOCERA Alumina Bearing Surface Cup (ABS Cup) had been used since 1998. However, because of the weakness of the ceramic inlay, the use of the implant was stopped in July, 2000.
We report a case of ceramic component failure of the ABS cup six years after total hip arthroplasy in a 51-year-old woman. At age 44 years, a Chiari pelvic osteotomy was performed on the patient’s right hip joint due to osteoarhritis, however the coxalgia was not improved, One year after the pelvic osteotomy, she had total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the ABS Cup. Six years after the THA, the breakage of the ceramic inlay was detected on the plain X-ray photograph and the cup and the head was replaced with polyethylene and metal. Due to the weakness of the ceramic-inlay system of the ABS Cup, the patients who have had THA with the same system should be observed meticulously throughout the clinical course.
