[Safety of ceramic materials for hip endoprostheses.]

This is the review of the basic properties, standards and regulations that are important for the application and safety of ceramic femoral DISAL heads for hip endoprostheses. The revision on a hip endoprosthesis is mostly caused by aseptic loosening of the stem or the socket. Failures owing to material properties (e. g. fracture of a stem or a head) occur quite seldom. On the basis of this analysis it can be concluded that the DISAL femoral head is a safe component in a hip endoprosthesis. The rate of loosening "in vivo" is less than 0,1 %. Key words: hip endoprosthesis, spherical head, corundum ceramics, conical junction, shaft.