Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
Fracture of a BIOLOX Delta Ceramic Femoral Head Articulating Against a Polyethylene Liner: A Case Report
Anneliese D Heiner1, Craig R Mahoney2
1Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Iowa, 2181 Westlawn Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1100. anneliese-heiner@uiowa.edu.
Case:
A forty-five-year-old woman underwent primary total hip arthroplasty with a 36-mm BIOLOX delta ceramic femoral head articulating against a polyethylene liner. She presented with hip pain at eighteen months postoperatively, two months after being in a bicycle accident; fracture of the femoral head was diagnosed.
Conclusion:
The possibility of a ceramic femoral head fracture should be decreased with use of the latest generation of ceramic material, a ceramic-on-polyethylene articulation rather than a ceramic-on-ceramic articulation, and a larger head size, all of which applied to this case. Taper-trunnion compatibility and correct intraoperative handling of the components are also essential.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
01:16Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella