Metal on Metal Surface Replacement of the Hip: Experience of the McMinn Prosthesis.
McMinn, Derek MD *; Treacy, Ronan MD **; Lin, Kyaw MD +; Pynsent, Paul PhD **
[Miscellaneous Article] Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. Metal on Metal Hip Protheses: Past Performance and Future Directions. 329 Supplement:S89-S98, August 1996.

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The historical failure of surface replacement has been due to the production of wear debris with subsequent bone resorption, loosening, and failure. To avoid these problems, a surface replacement using a metal on metal bearing allowing thin components and femoral design and instrumentation to avoid varus alignment has been designed. Two hundred thirty-five joints have been resurfaced with this prosthesis in almost 5 years. There have been no femoral neck fractures and no dislocations. There have been 4 designs differing in the method of fixation. In the press fit group, 6 of 70 hips had to be revised for aseptic loosening. In the cemented group, debonding of the cup occurred in 3 of 43 cases. Six patients had hydroxyapatite coated components and have had excellent clinical outcomes. The current design uses a peripherally expanded hydroxyapatite coated cup and a cemented metal head; 116 of this design have been implanted during a 19-month period with excellent outcome. Despite short followup the authors are hopeful that the combination of a polar metal on metal bearing with appropriate fixation will yield a method of preserving bone stock in the younger patient requiring arthroplasty.

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