Kevin Bozic, M.D., M.B.A., presented a paper at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in San Diego, California, on February 19, 2011. He reviewed data from a large number of procedures across the United States, relying on data from the Millennium Research Group. They noted that in 2009, 444,600 hip arthroplasty procedures were performed; 61 percent of these were primary total hips; 86 percent of the primary total hips performed in 2009 utilized cementless fixation for both the stem and the cup and 10 percent used a cemented stem and cementless cup; 1 percent used cemented stem and 3 percent were resurfacing procedures.
With respect to the bearing surface, 50 percent of the primary total hips were metal on cross-linked polyethylene, 21 percent were metal on metal; 19 percent were ceramic on cross-linked polyethylene, and 4 percent were ceramic on ceramic. The femoral head size was greater than 36 mm in 23 percent; 36 mm in 35 percent; 32 mg in 22 percent; and the remaining 22 percent were less than 32 mm. This indicates the trend toward cementless fixation for total hip arthroplasties has continued over the last several years, and metal-on-polyethylene bearing surfaces are still the primary bearing surface used in the United States.
—William P. Barrett, MD
