The standard configuration of artificial hip joint is that the metal head is lined with polyethylene, which has been used for many years and has good clinical effect. The vast majority (85%) can be used for more than 20 years. However, after a certain number of years of use, the failure of joint prosthesis was analyzed, and it was found that osteolysis around the prosthesis was the main reason for the loosening of the prosthesis. The occurrence of osteolysis is related to the grinding caused by the wear of polyethylene by metal head: tiny polyethylene particles trigger human immune response.
Ceramic-to-ceramic connection can avoid the above problems to the greatest extent. 1. Ceramic-to-ceramic connection greatly reduces wear particles. Ceramic is one of the most wear-resistant materials in all materials, and the wear is very small, so fewer particles are produced. 2. Ceramic wear particles have high biological inertia, that is to say, their particles cause little body reaction and rarely cause a lot of osteolysis, thus reducing the possibility of prosthesis loosening.
Therefore, in theory, most joints with metal head and polyethylene lining can be used for more than 20 years, while ceramic-to-ceramic joints can avoid prosthesis loosening caused by osteolysis, which should be used for many years longer than metal head and polyethylene lining.