Replacement of femoral head using endoprosthesis (alumina ceramics vs metal)--an experimental study of canine articular cartilage.

In two groups of adult dogs with a femoral head prosthesis of either metal or ceramic implanted in the hip joint, the implanted prostheses were compared in terms of the associated gross, histologic changes of the articular cartilage. At 1 or 3 months after implantation the resulting damage to the articular cartilage was minimal in both groups. However, at 6 months a marked difference was noted between the groups: the articular cartilage was almost completely lost in the metallic group, whereas a considerable portion of the cartilage remained intact in the ceramic group.