2009 Annual Meeting Podium Presentations

Adult Reconstruction Hip 3: Bearing Surfaces: Hard on Hard Bearings

Incidence of Squeaking After Ceramic-on-Ceramic Total Hip Arthroplasty: 2 - 10 Year Follow-Up

Podium No: 201

Thursday, February 26, 2009
08:36 AM - 08:42 AM

Location: Venetian Hotel
Venetian Ballroom I

Clifford W Colwell Jr, MD La Jolla CA
Kenny Mai, MD Hanford CA
Christopher Verioti, DO Flint MI
Kace A Ezzet, MD La Jolla CA
Steven Copp, MD La Jolla CA
Richard H Walker, MD La Jolla CA

Moderator(s):
Ronald Emilio Delanois, MD Lutherville MD
Michael D Ries, MD San Francisco CA

In 320 ceramic THA, we found 20% incidence of noise and 10% incidence of squeak which occurred between 12 - 30 months, were asymptomatic and associated with taller males and smaller neck geometry.

Ceramic-on-ceramic bearing surfaces offer an excellent choice for young, active patients requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA). ²Squeaking,² a phenomenon associated with ceramic bearing surfaces, has raised concerns among patients and surgeons. The cause and clinical significance the ²squeaking² are not currently understood. Incidence of hip ²squeak² has been variably reported. Our study reports the incidence of ²squeak² and its affect on clinical outcome after ceramic-on-ceramic THA in our patient population.

Between July 1997 and July 2005, 336 ceramic THA in 306 patients were performed at our institution. Every effort was made to contact all patients at routine follow-up (³ 2 years) or by telephone to administer a questionnaire regarding hip noise. Each patient was asked to describe any audible noise, what activities produced noise, onset date of noise, and whether the hip was symptomatic or had required intervention. Demographics and component characteristics were compared in patients with and without ²squeak.²

At mean follow-up of 3.9 years, 290 patients (320 THA) completed the questionnaire. Hip noise occurred in 20% (64 THA); 10% (32 THA) produced a ²squeak² with various activities. Most ²squeaking² hips (29/32) occurred between 12 and 30 months and were asymptomatic. Three ²squeaking² hips (0.9%) were symptomatic with 1 hip revised for painful click and instability. ²Squeak² was associated with taller male patients and femoral components with smaller neck geometry.

Our study shows a higher incidence of ²squeak² than previously reported. ²Squeaking² in this series may be related to prosthetic design.

A ^· to the left of the title indicates the FDA has not cleared the drug or device for the described purpose.

An alphabetical listing of disclosures will be available at a later time.

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