Very low wear rate measured in a hip endoprosthesis removed after 38 years

Abstract

A Marino Zuco hip prosthesis implanted in 1963 in a 13–year–old girl with congenital hip dislocation was revised in 2001 for aseptic loosening. At the time of revision surgery, no granulomatous tissue reaction due to massive wear was observed. Considering the notable 38–year survival of this implant, we measured linear and volumetric wear of the acrylic ball head using a digital method to reconstruct the original spherical surface. Linear wear was 0.817 mm (21.5 μm/year) and volumetric wear was 28.937 mm³/year. These low wear rates are attribuited to the patient’s limited range of motion during the implant’s life time. Low prosthetic use may have contributed to the long implant survival time.