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Updated: May 6, 2026

Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
Ceramic head fracture in ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty
Jae-Hwi Nho1, Jong-Seok Park, Ui-Seoub Song
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Cheonan, 31 Soonchunhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 330-721, Korea. huuy@schmc.ac.kr.
Abstract:
Revision rates of total hip arthroplasty have decreased after introducing total hip arthroplasty (THA) using ceramic component, since ceramic components could reduce components wear and osteolysis. The fracture of a ceramic component is a rare but potentially serious event. Thus, ceramic on polyethylene articulation is gradually spotlighted to reduce ceramic component fracture. There are a few recent reports of ceramic head fracture with polyethylene liner. Herein, we describe a case of a ceramic head component fracture with polyethylene liner. The fractured ceramic head was 28 mm short neck with conventional polyethylene liner. We treated the patient by total revision arthroplasty using 4th generation ceramic on ceramic components.

