The incidence of hip ''squeak'' associated with ceramic-on-ceramic bearings has been variably reported, ranging from 0.7% to 20.9%. We determined the patients' perception of squeaking in 306 patients (336 hips) in whom ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasties (THAs) were performed between 1997 and 2005. A questionnaire regarding hip noise was obtained by telephone. With a minimum followup of 2 years (mean, 3.9 years; range, 2-10 years), 290 patients (320 or 95% of the THAs) completed the questionnaire. Patients reported hip noise in 55 of the 320 THAs (17%); noise was perceived as squeak in 32 of the 320 (10%). Most squeaking hips (29 of 32) were pain-free and symptom-free. One patient was unhappy with his squeaking hip without pain. Our data suggest a much higher incidence of squeak as perceived by patients than previously reported.
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