CERAMICS IN

ORTHOPAEDICS
Moderators
Prof.P.Umananda Mallya
Dr.Ronald M

Presented By
Dr.Binoy.P.S
16/12/2008

DEFINITION
Ceramics are stable, solid materials
composed of compounds of metals with
nonmetals, especially oxygen.

USES
As weight bearing surface in
arthroplasty.
For manufacturing dental implants e.g;
crowns

WHY CERAMICS ARE

USED ?
Implants have a surface finish smoother than metal
implants.
The hydrophilic nature of ceramics or its ability to
absorb moisture promotes lubrication.

Harder than metal

More resistant to scratching from third
body wear particles

TYPES
1) UNREACTIVE OR NEARLY INERT e.g.,
Alumina ( Al2O3 ), Zirconium oxide, Carbon.
2) ABSORBABLE e.g., Tricalcium phosphate
3) BIOACTIVE OR SURAFCE ACTIVE e.g.,
Calcium hydroxyl apatite

ALUMINA
Most commonly used
High alumina ceramics (97%)
High purity alumina ceramics (99%)
BIOLOX forte (99.7%)
No clear advantage for alumina ceramics in
knee,
humeral head and metacarpo phalangeal joint
prosthesis

PROPERTIES
Thermo dynamically stable phase

at room temperature - phase

Hard
High wettability.
Very high thermal conductivity

ADVANTAGES
The hardest, strongest, and most wear resistant
ceramic.
Inexpensive and readily fabricable.
No recognizable biochemical effect.
The most bio compatible material known.
Oncogenic potential equal to or less than other implant
material.
Thermal conductivity of alumina is high, therefore
transmission of heat is easy.

ZIRCONIA
The crystal structure : monoclinic,
tetragonal or cubic. (Triphasic nature)
Phase transformation mechanism.
Under hydro thermally challenging conditions, as those
found in vivo, micro and macro crack formation can start
due to a spontaneous phase transformation from the
tetragonal to monoclinic. This process can expand and
weaken the ceramic.

DISADVANTAGES
Long term stability of zirconia is less compared
to
alumina.

Very little has been published concerning

zirconia ball
heads .

CARBON
Commercial development of orthopaedic
implants from
carbon fiber reinforced polyether-etherketone
is
underway.

CALCIUM PHOSPHATE
CERAMICS
Includes Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and calcium
hydroxyl
apatite (HAP).
Advantage
Ability to act as osteoconductive agent
Disadvantages
Uncertainities about biostability and
strength.
Poor fatigue resistance

Thank You