Table 1 Summary of studies reporting femoral head size

Lavernia et al. [3]

Five models (via finite elemental analysis)

28-, 32-, and 40-mm heads

Trunnion stress increased with head size: 10.1, 12.1, 16.6 MPa

Bolland et al. [10]

199

38–58-mm heads

17 hips revised, 14 hips awaiting revision (all heads >40 mm)

Dyrkacz et al. [11]

74

28-mm head (59 hips)

Larger diameter group––greater correlation with head–neck corrosion (0.975 vs 0.502) and head–neck fretting (1.0 vs 0.366)

36-mm head (15 hips)

Matthies et al. [12]

110

>36-mm heads

Median volume of material loss at trunnion (0.29 mm³) was significantly less compared to female taper, femoral head, and acetabular bearing surface (P < 0.001). Correlation observed between corrosion score and volume of material loss (ρ = 0.72, (95 % CI 0.44–0.87, P < 0.001)