Minimum ten-year results of a 28-mm metal-on-metal bearing in cementless total hip arthroplasty in patients fifty years of age and younger.

Objective: Concerns have been raised in relation to metal-on-metal (MoM) articulations with catastrophic soft-tissue reactions due to metal debris. We reviewed how small head MoM articulations perform in primary uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) in young patients at a minimum of ten years.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of the first 100 consecutive primary cementless THAs using the 28-mm Metasul MoM articulation in 91 patients younger than 50 years of age at the time of surgery.

Results: After 13 years, survival for the endpoint revision due to any reason was 90.9 % and 98.9 % for revision due to aseptic implant loosening. The cumulative incidence of MoM related revisions was 1.2 %. Small proximal femoral osteolysis was found in 18 % of hips. No acetabular osteolysis or loosening was detected. Two hips showed signs of femoral neck impingement with severe damage to the neck.

Conclusions: Early in the second decade, MoM-associated complications were rare using the 28-mm Metasul articulation, and aseptic loosening was not a major mode of failure in this cohort of young patients. Methods: Therapeutic Level IV.