Stainless Steel Femoral Heads Reduce Rate of Revision When Compared to Ion-Implanted Chromium-Cobalt Heads With a Single Cemented Femoral Design: An Analysis of 40,468 Total Hip Replacements From the Australian Orthopedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry

In order to reduce the incidence of total hip joint replacement revision for wear, multiple advanced materials and alloys targeting hip replacement tribology have been introduced. Ion implantation of chromium-cobalt heads is thought to reduce wear due to increased surface hardness and lower friction. These advances in technology result in additional manufacturing costs. However, it is unclear whether these attributes result in a decreased rate of revision for wear and when used with modern highly crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE). The aim of this study is to compare the survivorship of stainless steel and ion-implanted chromium-cobalt femoral heads in order to determine whether ion implantation has a lower risk of revision.

Data from the Australian Orthopedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry included all stainless steel and low-friction ion-treated (LFIT) femoral heads used in conjunction with a primary Exeter/Trident hip replacement combination and XLPE liners performed for osteoarthritis. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship were used to describe the time to first revision. Hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazard models, with adjustment for age and gender, were used to compare revision rates between the 2 groups.

There were 40,468 total hip replacements that met the inclusion criteria. Stainless steel heads had a lower revision rate compared to LFIT chromium-cobalt heads (HR 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.76-1.00, P = .048). The difference in the rate of revision was even greater when 32-mm heads were used (HR 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.89, P = .002). There was no difference in revision for loosening between head alloys or when stratified by age.

Given the increased costs associated with LFIT implants and the lower rate of revision for stainless steel heads, we recommend the use of a stainless steel heads when using an Exeter/Trident hybrid hip with an XLPE liner.