Comparison of migration in modular sockets with ceramic and polyethylene inlays

This study compared migration in 73 cementless total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with either alumina ceramic (n = 23) or polyethylene (n = 50) inlays; prosthesis sockets and stems were identical except for the inlays. After 7 years of follow-up, 5 sockets (4 with ceramic and 1 with polyethylene inlays) had been revised an average of 63.3 months (range: 49-81 months) after implantation, and survival analysis showed a significantly higher revision rate for sockets with ceramic inlays (89 +/- 6%) versus polyethylene inlays (98.2 +/- 1.7%) (P = .032). Migration analysis of the first three postoperative years revealed significantly higher vertical migration in sockets with ceramic inlays (P = .047), in patients aged <60 years (P = .02), and in osteoporotic type C bone (A versus C, P = .0071 and B versus C, P = .0004).