Experimental Study on an Artificial Hip Joint made of Al²O³ Ceramics

Abstract

We discussed the possibility of clinical application for the ceramic total hip prosthesis by biological and biomechanical experiments.
As a biological problem successive histopathological findings were observed in the femur and knee joint of a rabbit affected by tiny blocks and powder of poly-crystal ceramics.
In the biomechanical experiment, four types of test pieces made of ceramics and metal test pieces were inserted into the femurs of rabbits. Then, the strength of fixation between a bone and test piece was examined with a tensile testing unit. Through these experiments we found that ceramic showed significant biocompatibility with bone and had the firmer fixation with it. Therefore, we designed a ceramic total hip prosthesis for use in dogs and implanted this prosthesis in dogs. These animals were autopsied after varying intervals and studied histopathologically and electromicroscopically.
As the result we designed the JIKEI ceramiccoated total hip prosthesis for clinical use.