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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Traumatic Ceramic Femoral Head Fracture: An Initial Misdiagnosis

The Open Orthopaedics Journal 10 Aug 2012 RESEARCH ARTICLE DOI: 10.2174/1874325001206010362

Abstract

Background and Purpose:

Ceramic heads are widely used in modern total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although a rare complication, fractures of ceramic heads are described in the literature, evoking uncertainties regarding the in vivo stability of this material, especially when impaction of a fractured ceramic head can lead to disastrous results.

Methods:

In this case report, we present a fracture of a ceramic head after trauma. A misinterpretation of the initial radiographs led to severe fragmentation of the ceramic head two weeks after the incident, later resulting in complete destruction of the arthroplasty.

Results and Interpretation:

Remarkably, radiographs obtained more than one year after the trauma led to this delayed diagnosis. A single radiographic evaluation, especially in patients with persistent pain after major trauma, with a ceramic head in a THA, seems to be insufficient

Keywords:: Total hip arthroplasty, ceramic head fracture, misdiagnosis, complication, trauma, radiographic evaluation.
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