Ten-year follow-up study of three alternative bearing surfaces used in total hip arthroplasty in young patients: A prospective randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Aims We present the ten-year data of a cohort of patients, aged between 18 and 65 years (mean age 52.7 years; 19 to 64), who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Patients were randomised to be treated with a cobalt-chrome (CoCr) femoral head with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) or ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearing surface. Patients and Methods A total of 102 hips (91 patients) were randomised into the three groups. At ten years, 97 hips were available for radiological and functional follow-up. Two hips (two patients) had been revised (one with deep infection and one for periprosthetic fracture) and three were lost to follow-up. Radiological analysis was performed using a validated digital assessment programme to give linear, directional and volumetric wear of the two polyethylene groups. Results There was a significantly reduced rate of steady-state linear wear with XLPE (0.07 mm/yr) compared with UHMWPE (0.37 mm/yr) (p = 0.001). Volumetric wear was also significantly reduced in the XLPE group (29.29 mm3/yr) compared with the UHMWPE group (100.75mm3/ yr) (p = 0.0001). There were six patients with UHMWPE who had non-progressive osteolysis and none in the XLPE group. All three bearing groups had significant improvements in 12-item short form health survey scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score and Harris Hip Score. However, the improvement in HSS was significantly less in the UHMWPE group (p = 0.0188) than in the other two groups. At ten years, the rates of volumetric and linear wear in the XLPE group remain low and predominantly below the estimated threshold for osteolysis (1 mm/yr). The rate of linear wear in the XLPE group was three times less than in the UHMWPE group at five-year followup and five times less at ten years. The rate of volumetric wear was also three times less in the XLPE group at ten years. Conclusion While CoC also performs well, XLPE at ten years remains a safe and excellent bearing option in young patients, with low rates of wear and no evidence of osteolysis.