"Safety Proven for 4th Generation Ceramic-Based Artificial Hip Replacement Surgery"

Professor Lee Young-gyun and Professor Park Jung-wi Team at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital

Professor Lee Young-gyun (left) and Professor Park Jung-wi, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] A research team led by Professors Lee Youngkyun and Park Jungwi from the Department of Orthopedics at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 28th that they have proven the safety of fourth-generation ceramic articular surface total hip arthroplasty performed on patients with femoral head insufficiency fractures.

Femoral head insufficiency fracture is a condition where only a part of the femoral head, the head portion of the thigh bone (femur), is fractured. It mainly occurs in elderly people with weak bones or children, and patients with osteoporosis can develop it without any trauma, so caution is required. If the fracture size is small, treatment is possible without surgery using assistive devices and osteoporosis medications, but if the fracture is large or diagnosis is delayed, it can lead to femoral head destruction and arthritis, necessitating surgery. The representative surgical method is artificial hip replacement surgery, and in Korea, ceramic articular surfaces that can replace the femoral head are most commonly used.

The research team conducted a follow-up observational study on patients with femoral head insufficiency fractures who underwent artificial hip surgery using fourth-generation ceramic from November 2010 to December 2017. Notably, the average age of the patients participating in this study was 72 years, which is much higher than the average age of patients receiving total hip arthroplasty in their 50s, allowing the safety of the fourth-generation ceramic to be demonstrated.

The study results showed that 95.7% of patients did not require reoperation, indicating excellent biocompatibility of the artificial joint. Radiographic examination results were also favorable, and patient satisfaction and improvement in physical function were excellent.

Professor Lee stated, “The fourth-generation ceramic is currently the latest bearing material used in artificial hip surgery, and it shows significantly less ceramic breakage than previous generations, resulting in superior long-term survival rates. Especially in this study, it demonstrated excellence even in elderly patients suffering from femoral head insufficiency fractures.” Professor Park explained, “Elderly patients with femoral head insufficiency fractures often have joint and spinal deformities, which pose risks such as dislocation or periprosthetic fractures during artificial joint surgery. However, if total hip arthroplasty using fourth-generation ceramic is performed, even elderly patients can live without discomfort for life.”

This paper was published in the world-renowned orthopedic journal, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

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