Delayed Catastrophic Failure of a Ceramic Head in Hybrid Total Hip Arthroplasty

Catastrophic failure of ceramic implants is a rare but known complication of total hip arthroplasty where such implants have been used. We report an unusual case of a 67-year-old woman who underwent bilateral hybrid total hip arthroplasty using ceramic-on-polyethylene bearings. Seven years later, she presented with left-sided hip pain in the absence of any trauma. She was found to have a completely shattered ceramic head, with subsequent erosion of the metal taper of the femoral stem through the polyethylene insert, its metal shell, and into the pelvis. This complicated subsequent revision surgery, as removal of the acetabular component resulted in a large pelvic defect that required an acetabular reinforcement ring and bone grafting. She recovered well after the revision procedure.