Total hip arthroplasty in young patients. Bearings and custom-made prostheses

BackgroundCarefully and correctly implanted components are the prerequisite for the lifespan of aprosthesis. Whether higher levels of activity lead to prior failure of total hip arthroplasty in young patients is controversially discussed. The right choice of bearings is still of great relevance.BearingsCeramic-on-ceramic as well as polyethylene-on-ceramic bearings achieve comparable results, although ceramic-on-ceramic bearings should be avoided in patients with high demands on their range of motion. Polyethylene-on-metal bearings also show good clinical results, if corrosion between head and stem is absent. Metal-on-metal bearings lead to adverse systemic effects due to metal wear and should be implanted in individual cases only, e.g. as hip resurfacing. Alternative bearings have to give proof of effectivity first. Custom-made prostheses constitute an option for young patients with special conditions of hip anatomy. Planning and study results of these prostheses are elucidated in this review article.