Wear of the polyethylene head of the Oscobal prosthesis

Ten hemiarthroplasties were performed with the Oscobal (Daubenspeck) his prosthesis, which consists of a metal stem and a nonrotating ployethylene head. Five patients died 1-150 days after the operation. Signs of massive wear of the polyethylene head were demonstrated in four out of the five patients still alive 16-28 months after the operation. We can therefore not recommend the Oscobal system for hemiarthroplasty of the hip.