The influence of biomaterial on patterns of failure after cemented total hip replacement

We examined aseptic loosening and osteolysis in 77 revised McKee-Arden total hip arthroplasties (THAs) using polyethylene cups and identical femoral stems made from either cobalt chrome alloy or titanium alloy. Time to failure was significantly shorter in the titanium group. Loosening and peri-prosthetic osteolysis occurred with significantly higher frequency in the titanium group compared to the cobalt chrome group.