Alumina Femoral Head Fracture: An in Vitro Study

Abstract

A fracture of a ceramic femoral head is reported in this study. Fractures of ceramic femoral heads are uncommon and reports on this complication are rare. After 3 million cycles, on a twelve station hip simulator that tested alumina femoral head against polyethylene acetabular cup, fracture of the ceramic ball was observed. The retrieved specimen consisted of three large ceramic fragments from the same ceramic femoral head, a polyethylene acetabular cup and a stainless steel jig. Careful and detailed examination of the removed components was made. The fracture of the ceramic ball resulted in damage to the metal taper of the jig component which was fixed into the simulator.

The Influence of Boundary Conditions on Finite Element Analysis

“…Another condition that is not taken into account by the BC 1 condition is the "toggling" of the femoral head on the taper, an issue related to this is the fulcrum point which can be an initiation site of fretting corrosion for the male taper and a possible failure site. The fretting and wear location in the femoral head may also be a crack initiation site [12].…”