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DOES THE SIZE OF THE BALL MATTER IN THR


The size of the ball of the natural hip joint (femoral head) varies and usually ranges from 40 to 54 mm (with smaller sizes in females). During the initial development of hip replacement, the surgeons tried to make the implants which mimic the size of the natural femoral head. However, it was soon realised that when a large metal ball articulates with a plastic cup, the plastic part gets worn out quickly due to “volumetric wear”. To decrease the “wear” of the plastic, Sir John Charnley (who was one of the pioneers in the development of modern hip replacements), opted for a smaller 22 mm metal head (which is much smaller than the natural femoral head) in the design of Charnley hip replacement. This design was the commonest hip replacement done in the UK until recently.

Studies have shown that with this technique, there were fairly good long term results in patients who are not very young and active. However, there were some restrictions placed on what the patients can do to avoid dislocations (when the ball comes out of the joint) and a high dislocation rate following hip replacement has been quoted with smaller “ball size” in multicentre studies1.

Many surgeons over the past few years have started using slightly larger size femoral head (28 mm) which is still within the tolerance of conventional metal on plastic bearing. However, still it is smaller than the natural femoral head. The problem of wear and dislocation is still a potential concern.

Dislocation still remains a major reason (17%) for revision of hip replacement (NJR data 2008).


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A study2 in which Mr.Ganapathi was involved found that the financial cost of treating dislocated hip replacements was high (£500000 on a conservative estimate in dealing with 100 first time dislocators). In addition many patients had to undergo further revision surgeries and the functional results were less than optimal. While the cause of hip dislocations is multifactorial, using a larger ball could decrease the incident of dislocations. However, the size of the ball was limited by the material properties.

In addition, much younger and active patients are being offered hip replacements now. The expectations of young and active patients are much higher and they would like to go back to their active lifestyle with little restrictions.  To improve the durability of the hip replacements, material scientists have come up with modern solutions (alternative bearings).

There are essentially three types of alternative materials – cross linked poly (plastic), ceramic and metal. These alternative bearings also allow larger size ball to be used 32 mm, 36 mm and even 40 mm. However, the size would be limited by the cup (socket size) and also some material allow slightly bigger ball to be used with the same cup size compared to other materials.

Stability                +
ROM                      +
Bone conserving    –

(ROM – Range of Movement)

Stability              ++
ROM                    ++
Bone conserving    –

Stability            +++
ROM                    ++
Bone conserving   +

Stability          +++
ROM                +++
Bone conserving  –

Lab studies and clinical studies also support the concept that the larger sized balls decrease the dislocation3,4.  A study conducted by Mr.Ganapathi also found that the larger size ball also decrease the risk of dislocations even in complex revision surgery compared with historical studies5.

However, because of the relatively new concept, the “modern” alternative bearings brought some new complications. Metal on metal bearings, in addition also allowed the surgeon to use an even larger size ball (same size as the natural femoral head – “anatomical sized head” or “large diameter head”).  Because the size of the ball is almost the same as the natural femoral head, there is almost a negligible rate of dislocation and very little restriction in activities once the soft tissues have healed. Data from some studies on gait analysis showed better gait pattern with larger diameter balls 6,7 and better patient reported outcome scores8.

A study from Montreal9 in which Mr.Ganapathi was involved analysed the range of movement following different types of hip replacement using standardised digital photographs and computer software.

This study showed that the range of movement was better with the “large diameter head” total hip arthroplasty when compared with 28 mm head total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing but still was less than the range of movement of the normal contralateral hip. In addition, functional score (WOMAC score) also correlated with range of movement.


rangeofmovement


This study showed that the range of movement was better with the “large diameter head” total hip arthroplasty when compared with 28 mm head total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing but still was less than the range of movement of the normal contralateral hip. In addition, functional score (WOMAC score) also correlated with range of movement.

Examples of stability and range of movement achieved Following hip replacement using large diameter head


yoga

1. Yoga teacher  – 4 months following computer guided hip resurfacing | 2 Skiing Instructor – 4 months following large diameter head and hip replacement.

2. Skiing Instructor – 4 months following large diameter head and hip replacement

Although, large head metal on metal type hip replacements/hip resurfacing appeared to be the ideal bearing option with regards to stability and range of movement, further studies indicated higher early failure rate with metal on metal hip replacements and hip resurfacing. In April 2010 MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority) issued an alert to the higher failure rate. In April 2010 MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority) issued an alert to the high failure rate of metal on metal hips and advised monitoring of patients with metal on metal hips with metal ion levels in the blood.

Over the ensuing few years, metal on metal bearings including resurfacings gradually fell out of favour and is done very infrequently. Currently, the most common bearing options used are metal on cross linked plastic, ceramic on cross linked and ceramic and ceramic bearings with still some limitations.

Thus the quest for the optimal bearing surface still continues!

Current view: Although anatomical size balls had many theoretical and practical advantages including excellent hip stability compared to traditional smaller balls, the higher complications and higher revision rate with metal on metal large head hip replacements and hip resurfacings have led to a general trend of avoiding very large balls and such large ball metal on metal bearings are very rarely used nowadays. As a compromise between stability, range of movement and avoidance of complications of anatomical sized metal on metal bearings, medium sized 32 mm or 36 mm balls are being increasingly used.

Scientific Literature

The following are some relevant selected scientific references:

1. Outcome of Charnley total hip replacement across a single health region in England: the results at five years from a regional hip register.

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999 Jul;81(4):577-81.

Fender D, Harper WM, Gregg PJ.

Using a regional arthroplasty register we assessed the outcome at five years of 1198 primary Charnley total hip replacements (THRs) carried out in 1152 patients across a single UK health region in 1990. Information regarding outcome was available for 1080 hips (90%) and 499 had an independent clinical and radiological assessment. By five years the known rate of aseptic loosening was 2.3%, of deep infection 1.4%, of dislocation 5.0% and of revision 3.2%. The radiological assessment of 499 THRs revealed gross failure in a further 5.2%, which had been previously unrecognised. The combined rate of failure of nearly 9% is higher than those published from specialist centres and surgeons, but is probably more representative of the norm. Our study supports the need for a national register and surveillance of THRs. It emphasises that all implants should be followed, and suggests that the results of such surgery, when performed in the general setting, may not be as good as expected.

2. Outcome of treatment for dislocation after primary total hip replacement.

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009 Mar;91(3):321-6.

Kotwal RS, Ganapathi M, John A, Maheson M, Jones SA.

We have studied the natural history of a first episode of dislocation after primary total hip replacement (THR) to clarify the incidence of recurrent dislocation, the need for subsequent revision and the quality of life of these patients. Over a six-year period, 99 patients (101 hips) presented with a first dislocation of a primary THR. A total of 61 hips (60.4%) had dislocated more than once. After a minimum follow-up of one year, seven patients had died. Of the remaining 94 hips (92 patients), 47 underwent a revision for instability and one awaits operation (51% in total). Of these, seven re-dislocated and four needed further surgery. The quality of life of the patients was studied using the Oxford Hip Score and the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire. A control group of patients who had not dislocated was also studied. At a mean follow-up of 4.5 years (1 to 20), the mean Oxford Hip Score was 26.7 (15 to 47) after one episode of dislocation, 27.2 (12 to 45) after recurrent dislocation, 34.5 (12 to 54) after successful revision surgery, 42 (29 to 55) after failed revision surgery and 17.4 (12 to 32) in the control group. The EuroQol-5 dimension questionnaire revealed more health problems in patients undergoing revision surgery.

3. A cadaveric study of posterior dislocation after total hip replacement-effects of head diameter and acetabular anteversion.

Int Orthop. 2010 Feb 24. [Epub ahead of print].

Ng FY, Zhang JT, Chiu KY, Yan CH.

The size of the femoral head and acetabular anteversion are crucial for stability in total hip replacements. This study examined the effects of head diameter and acetabular anteversion on the posterior instability after total hip replacement in an in vivo setting. The acetabular shell was inserted at 0-20 degrees of anteversion at five degree intervals. By using different head sizes (28 mm, 32 mm, 36 mm), the degrees of dislocation were recorded by computer navigation. The 36-mm group consistently showed better stability compared with the 32- and 28-mm groups, regardless of the degree of cup anteversion. Within each group of head size, the hip was significantly more stable when the cup anteversion increased from 0 degrees to 10 degrees . The difference became insignificant when it increased from 15 degrees to 20 degrees.

4.  Hip stability in primary total hip arthroplasty using an anatomically sized femoral head.

Orthopedics. 2009 Jul;32(7):489.  Smit MJ.

Dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains a problem despite many advances in technique and prosthetic design over the 5 decades since the introduction of total joint replacement. This article reports the short-term results (1 year of follow-up) of THA in 235 patients who received a large, anatomically sized femoral head (BFH Technology; Wright Medical Technology, Inc, Arlington, Tennessee) with modular necks for hip stability. The prosthesis allows a 6-mm differential between the size of the acetabular component and femoral head size. Patients also received a Conserve monoblock acetabular cup and a Profemur femoral stem (Wright Medical Technology, Inc) implanted without cement. Postoperative clinical evaluations included measurements of Harris Hip Scores and range of motion, along with assessments of pain and function and radiological evaluations. There were no complications (deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, infection, reoperations) and no dislocations. All clinical evaluations showed statistically significant improvement (P<.001) at 1-year follow-up, and radiographic evaluation has shown no evidence of osteolysis or implant loosening. This study indicates that using a large femoral head may reduce the incidence of dislocation and may enable early return to activities postoperatively. Future evaluations of this patient group will elicit longer-term follow-up data.

5. The use of large diameter femoral heads in revision total hip replacement

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery – British Volume, Vol 90-B, Issue SUPP_III, 534

M Ganapathi; I B Paul; E Clatworthy; A John; M Maheson; and S Jones

Aim: To investigate the outcome following revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) using 36 mm and 40 mm modular femoral heads.  Methods: Details were retrieved from our arthroplasty database regarding all revision THAs done in our unit using 36 mm and 40 mm femoral heads. Follow-up information was obtained from patient records and telephone conversation.  Results: The cohort considered totalled 107 revision THAs, 93 using a 36 mm head and 14 using a 40 mm head. All received either highly cross-linked UHMWPE liners or metal on metal liners. The indications for revisions were recurrent instability in eight, periprosthetic fracture in 11, second stage revision in 24, fracture of the femoral stem in one and aseptic loosening in the remaining 63. At a minimum follow up of one year, information was not available for five but they did not have any record of dislocation. Out of the remaining 102 patients, dislocation occurred in 4 hips (3.9%). None of the revisions done with 40 mm head dislocated. In two of the dislocations, the initial indication for revision THA was recurrent instability and if they are excluded, the dislocation rate was 1.96%.  Discussion: Dislocation and the sequalae of recurrent instability remains a significant problem following revision THA and the existing literature varies greatly in the quoted dislocation rates. We believe that the use of 36 mm and 40 mm femoral heads in our unit has been a major factor in low (3.6%) dislocation rate following revision THA. To date there have been no problems encountered resulting from the use of highly cross-linked UHMWPE.

6. Postural balance during quiet standing in patients with total hip arthroplasty and surface replacement arthroplasty.

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2008 May;23(4):402-7. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Nantel J, Termoz N, Centomo H, Lavigne M, Vendittoli PA, Prince F.

BACKGROUND: Primary total hip arthroplasty leads to better functional capacities but a general weakness of abductor muscles often persists. A larger head component may improve the postural balance in the medial-lateral direction. The aims of this study are (1) to compare postural stability in patients after total hip and surface replacement arthroplasties and (2) to evaluate the effect of the biomechanical reconstruction on postural stability. METHODS: Six months post-surgery, three groups of ten subjects (total hip and surface replacement arthroplasties and control) performed quiet standing tasks in both dual and one leg stance and a hip abductor muscles strength test. The root-mean-square amplitude of centre of pressure and centre of mass displacement in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions were calculated for dual stance task. FINDINGS: Statistical analyses showed greater centre of pressure and centre of mass displacement amplitude in the medial-lateral direction during the dual stance for the total hip arthroplasty compared to the surface replacement and control subjects (P<0.05). All control subjects completed the one leg stance compared to nine in the surface replacement and five in the total hip arthroplasty group. No statistical difference was found between the groups in the hip abductor muscles strength. INTERPRETATION: The better anatomical preservation, absence of femoral stem and the larger bearing component could account for the return to better postural stability in surface replacement patients in comparison to total hip patients. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of each of these factors on the postural balance.

7. Postural balance during quiet standing in patients with total hip arthroplasty with large diameter femoral head and surface replacement arthroplasty.

rch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Sep;90(9):1607-12.

Nantel J, Termoz N, Ganapathi M, Vendittoli PA, Lavigne M, Prince F.

OBJECTIVE: To compare postural balance between patients who have had either a large diameter head total hip arthroplasty or surface replacement arthroplasty. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Outpatient biomechanical laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Two groups of 14 patients with surface replacement or large diameter head total hip arthroplasties recruited from a larger randomized study and 14 control subjects. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural balance during quiet standing in dual and one-leg stance (operated leg), hip abductor muscle strength, clinical outcomes, and radiographic analyses were compared between groups. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, patients in both groups showed smaller center of pressure displacement amplitude in the medial-lateral direction in dual stance. Patients with large diameter head total hip arthroplasty showed lower hip abductor muscle strength compared to control subjects. There was statistical difference between the 2 patient groups in biomechanical reconstruction of the hip. Despite these differences, there was no significant difference in the ability to complete the one-leg stance task between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The muscular strength in the operated limb could be mainly responsible for the lower center of pressure displacement amplitude compared to control subjects. However, the ability to complete the one-leg stance demonstrates that patients do not fear to load the hip prosthesis when needed. The large diameter femoral head may be a major mechanical factor contributing to these results.

8. Comparison of patient-reported outcomes between hip resurfacing and total hip replacement.

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2009 Dec;91(12):1550-4. Lingard EA, Muthumayandi K, Holland JP.

Department of Orthopaedics, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

This study compared the demographic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes after total hip replacement (THR) and Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) carried out by a single surgeon. Patients completed a questionnaire that included the WOMAC, SF-36 scores and comorbid medical conditions. Data were collected before operation and one year after. The outcome scores were adjusted for age, gender, comorbid conditions and, at one year, for the pre-operative scores. There were 214 patients with a THR and 132 with a BHR. Patients with a BHR were significantly younger (49 vs 67 years, p < 0.0001), more likely to be male (68% vs 42% of THR, p < 0.0001) and had fewer comorbid conditions (1.3 vs 2.0, p < 0.0001). Before operation there was no difference in WOMAC and SF-36 scores, except for function, in which patients awaiting THR were worse than those awaiting a BHR. At one year patients with a BHR reported significantly better WOMAC pain scores (p = 0.04) and in all SF-36 domains (p < 0.05). Patients undergoing BHR report a significantly greater improvement in general health compared with those with a THR.

9. Range of motion of large head total hip arthroplasty is greater than 28 mm total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing.

Accepted for publication in Clin Biomech.

Lavigne M, Ganapathi M, Mottard S, Girard J, Vendittoli P.

Department of Surgery, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Background: Reduced range of motion of the hip has a detrimental influence on lower limb function. Large diameter head total hip arthroplasty may theoretically have a greater potential for restoring normal hip range of motion due to greater head-neck diameter ratio, and hence provide better function compared to conventional or hip resurfacing arthroplasty.

Method: At minimum one year follow-up, range of motion of the operated and contra lateral hips was clinically assessed using digital photographs and bony landmarks in a clinical comparative study. We assessed if 1) Large diameter head total hip arthroplasty (55 patients) restores better hip range of motion compared to 28mm total hip arthroplasty (50 patients) or hip resurfacing (60 patients)  2) Large diameter head total hip arthroplasty achieves same hip range of motion as contra lateral normal hips and 3) hip range of motion correlates with the WOMAC score.

Findings: The large diameter head total hip arthroplasty group had significantly greater total arcs of motion (approximately 20 degrees), mostly due to an increase of hip flexion and external rotation, but did not reach normal hip motion. The hip range of motion showed significant correlation with the WOMAC score, especially the flexion arc.

Interpretation: The better hip range of motion of large diameter head total hip arthroplasty is likely due to the greater head to neck diameter ratio and hence seems to be the best option to optimize range of hip motion and improve function after hip arthroplasty.