Abrasive wear and metallosis associated with cross-linked polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty

A 34-year-old female patient received a cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy femoral head on cross-linked polyethylene total hip replacement for the revision of her fractured ceramic-on-ceramic total hip replacement. The CoCr alloy femoral head became severely worn due to third-body abrasive wear by ceramic particles that could not be removed by synovectomy or irrigation at revision surgery. Ceramic particles were found embedded in the cross-linked polyethylene liner. The CoCr alloy femoral head exhibited a total mass loss of 14.2 g and the generated wear particles triggered metallosis in the patient. The present case study suggests not revising a fractured ceramic-on-ceramic total hip replacement with a CoCr alloy femoral head and a cross-linked polyethylene liner to avoid metallosis due to third-body abrasive wear.