Tribocorrosion: Ceramic and Oxidized Zirconium vs Cobalt-Chromium heads in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Objective This matched-cohort study aims to compare tribocorrosion between matched ceramic and cobalt-chromium femoral head trunnions, between matched Oxinium® and cobalt-chromium femoral head trunnions. Secondary objectives were to investigate if taper design, depth of trunnion, implantation time, age, body mass index and gender have an effect on fretting and corrosion. Materials and methods All hip prostheses retrieved between 1999 and 2015 at one center were reviewed, giving a total of fifty-two ceramic heads. These were matched to a cobalt-chromium cohort according to taper design, head size, neck length and implantation time. The trunnions were examined by two observers using a 4-point scoring technique and scored in three zones: apex, middle and base. The observers were blinded to clinical and manufacturing data where possible. A separate matched-cohort analysis was performed between eight Oxinium® heads and eight cobalt-chromium heads, which were similarly scored. Results Ceramic head trunnions demonstrated a lower median fretting and corrosion score at the base zone (p