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Every year, several hundred thousand patients in the U.S. undergo hip replacement. Implantable hip joint devices with different bearing surfaces are available. To determine which device is best, U.S. investigators conducted a systematic review of clinical trials, observational studies, and registries.
The analysis included 18 randomized trials and observational studies that involved 3100 patients (age range, 42–71) and 3400 hips. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 8.1 years. Functional and quality-of-life outcomes (measured using validated instruments) did not differ between patients who received traditional metal-on-polyethylene implants (metal femoral heads with polyethylene cups) and patients who received newer metal-on-metal or ceramic-on…