Polyethylene wear is well understood to be the main cause of osteolysis, a disease which destroys healthy bone and leads to implant loosening and revision. Research work conducted across the industry has endeavoured to reduce implant wear by developing new material combinations for joint replacement bearings.

Today there are a number of different material combinations available. These include metal on polyethylene, ceramic on polyethylene, metal on metal and ceramic on ceramic. Which combination available to you will depend on a number of factors including:

• Your clinical condition and treatment
• The hip system chosen by your surgeon
• The hip system supplier
• The ceramic manufacturer