BACKGROUND: Artificial hip prosthesis materials play a decisive role in the success rates of hip replacement and the recovery rate for patients.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the properties of hip joint weight-bearing surface materials with different combinations, as well as the biocompatibility of the materials and the host after implanted in vivo.
METHODS: The key word of “total hip replacement, artificial hip joint, metal, ceramic, polyethylene, biocompatibility, clinical application” in Chinese and “total hip replacement, artificial hip, prosthetic materials, biocompatibility, clinical application” in English were used to retrieve the articles published from January 2001 to December 2011 in Wanfang and PubMed databases, respectively, by computer. Articles related to the biocompatibility of hip joint weight-bearing surface materials and their host were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Metal-ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is commonly used in combination at present, which also measures other combinations as the gold standard. But its wear particles can induce peripheral tissue reactions, which lead to osteolysis and aseptic loosening of prosthesis. The combinations of metal-high cross linked polyethylene, metal-metal, ceramics-ceramics and ceramics-polyethylene all could reduce the attrition to a certain extent, but the metallic ion toxicity, ceramic fragility and high cost are still needed to solve. An ideal weight-bearing surface material should have good characteristics, such as biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, fatigue resistance and toughness. Currently, artificial hip joint bearing surface combinations have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, in order to achieve the best curative effect, clinicians should adopt an individualized therapeutic principle according different patients and consider patients with different illness and economic conditions to choose an appropriate prosthesis combination type.