Long Term Survival of an hydroxyapatite-Coated Threaded Cup in the Presence of a high Polythene Wear Rate

We describe the long term clinical results and polythene wear rate measurement of 144 uncemented total hip arthroplasties in 118 patients (Male: Female-65: 53, Mean age: 52.8 years (range 21–78 years) performed between 1988 and 2000 using the Furlong HAC coated threaded acetabular cup. The mean follow-up for the group was 10.2 years (range: 5–17.5, median: 9.7). One femoral stem and two acetabular shells were revised due to aseptic loosening. The mean polythene wear rate was 0.24 mm/year. Ten-year survival for the acetabular and femoral components with radiological evidence of aseptic loosening as an end point was 99.15 (CI: 98.3–99.9) and 99.28 (CI: 98.5–99.9). There was no evidence of osteolysis around the femoral or acetabular components in spite of a relatively high polythene wear rate (0.24mm/year). Our study demonstrates excellent survival of threaded HAC coated acetabular sockets at 10 years in spite of a relatively high polythene wear rate.