FDA Approves Ceramic on Ceramic Total Hip Prosthesis

What's New In Hip Surgery

On February 3rd of 2003, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the first Ceramic on Ceramic (C/C) total hip replacement device. This product, known as the Trident system, is manufactured by Stryker Howmedica Osteonics.

Ceramic on Ceramic hip devices are a great option for younger patients with many years of life ahead of them, due to the very low wear on ceramic devices.

Previous total hip replacements utilized a metal head (ball) with a plastic acetabular liner. The older style plastic acetabular liner, which is composed mainly of a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, (UHMWPE) has shown evidence of wear over the years. Ceramic on Ceramic devices have set out to solve the problem of prosthetic wear.

Ceramic on Ceramic total hip replacement systems have been manufactured and used in Europe and Asia for more than 10 years. The FDA approved ceramic femoral heads to be used in conjunction with "UHMWPE" liners in 1990.

Data collected for ceramic on ceramic patients in Europe and Asia have shown a decrease in wear on the prosthesis, making total hip replacements prosthesis last longer.