We reviewed the results of forty-two total hip replacements that had
been done with the self-locking Autophor ceramic total hip prosthesis in
thirty-four patients. The patients ranged in age from twenty-five to
sixty-seven years (average, forty-eight years). The diagnoses were
avascular necrosis (eight patients), degenerative arthritis (nineteen
patients), ankylosing spondylitis (one patient), post-traumatic arthritis
(two patients), and rheumatoid arthritis (four patients). Seven procedures
were revisions: five, of a loose cemented total hip prosthesis and two, of
a loose noncemented endoprosthesis. No revision was done for infection. The
length of follow-up ranged from twenty-seven to sixty-six months (average,
fifty-one months). The patients were evaluated by physical examination,
serial radiographs, and questionnaires. The hips were rated with the
modified Harris hip score. At the time of follow-up, eleven of the
twenty-seven patients who had had a primary hip replacement complained of
at least moderate pain that limited activities; however, only three
patients had to have a revision. The femoral components had a notable
tendency to subside more than five millimeters, and in fifteen hips there
was radiographic evidence of progressive loosening. Our experience with the
self-locking Autophor ceramic total hip prosthesis has been disappointing.
We no longer use it.