A-W glass ceramic as a bone substitute in cemented hip arthroplasty: 15 hips followed 2-10 years

We retrospectively reviewed hip arthroplasties in 13 patients (15 hips), in whom we had used apatite-wollastonite (A-W) glass ceramic together with auto- or allograft for augmentation of severe bone deficiency. 11 cemented sockets and 4 stem revisions were included and followed for 2-9.6 years. There were no radiolucent lines between A-W glass ceramic and surrounding bone, and remodeling of the bone graft containing A-W glass ceramic was observed. No migration of cemented sockets was seen except in 1 case, which was revised. In this case, direct bonding between bone and A-W glass ceramic granules was present histologically. In 4 stem revisions, 5 mm subsidence occurred in 1 case. However, the stem became stable and remodeling of the grafted bone occurred. An artificial bone material, such as A-W glass ceramic, can be used under high-load conditions, because of its good mechanical properties.