New Oxinium Technology Improves Hip Implants

A new bearing surface for artificial hip joints is made from Oxinium, a wear-reducing material designed to increase the lifespan of implants and decrease the need for corrective surgeries.

Oxinium implants are made from zirconium, a biocompatible metal similar to titanium. The metal is heated and infused with oxygen until the outer surface naturally transforms into a ceramic. Rather than converting the entire implant into ceramic, only the outermost portion takes on the smooth, hard qualities of ceramic. As a result, Oxinium hip implants are 4,900 times more abrasion-resistant than cobalt chrome and reduce implant wear by nearly 50%, said Smith & Nephew Orthopedics (Memphis, TN, USA). The company noted that the technology has been proven effective in its knee implants.

"Presently, surgeons have to choose between the strength of metals and the wear resistance of ceramic surfaces. With Oxinium implants, surgeons and patients have the benefits of both,” said Dave Illingworth, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopedics.






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