Bearing surface considerations for total hip arthroplasty in young patients.

Bearing selection for total hip arthroplasty in young patients is important because of the likely long service life of the implant. Careful consideration of the next operation is recommended when choosing components. No prospective, randomized studies exist that document the clear superiority of any bearing couple in young, active patients. Modern metals, ceramics, and polyethylenes all hold promise. Further long-term data on modern bearings are needed to determine the clinical performance of these bearings. This article summarizes the available data on various bearing couples in patients aged younger than 50 years.