Corrosion in modular total hip replacements: An analysis of the head–neck and stem–sleeve taper connections

In this retrieval study, modular junctions of retrieved S-ROM® implants were examined to determine the extent of corrosion at the head–neck and stem–sleeve junctions. Corrosion severity was graded in relation to the bearing surface material over time. It was found that the corrosion at the head–neck taper is greater for cobalt–chrome femoral heads compared to ceramic femoral heads. The stem–sleeve junction had significantly more corrosion damage (p < 0.05) in implants that had hard-on-hard bearing surfaces compared to hard-on-soft bearings. This study suggests that bearing surface materials and head size affect the amount of corrosion that is present at the modular junctions.