Continuum™ Acetabular System

The power to meet a wide variety of individual patient needs.

Zimmer® Continuum™ Acetabular System provides highly flexible solutions for orthopaedic surgeons who treat a wide range of patients.  The system combines the proven biologic fixation1,2 of Trabecular Metal ™ Technology with Zimmer advanced bearing options.  With one of the most comprehensive systems, surgeons have the ability to address variations of anatomy and bone quality and choose the bearing technology that best meets the needs of each patient.

Highly porous Trabecular Metal Material with over eleven years of clinical history

  • Initial stability3
    Trabecular Metal material possesses a higher coefficient of friction on cancellous bone that other implant materials.1 This property facilitates direct bone apposition2,3 to increase initial stability at implantation.
  • Long-term biologic fixation4,5
    A high porosity that yields enhanced fixation4,6-14 through rapid and extensive bone ingrowth8, 11-16
  • Proven clinical history
    Statistically improved gap filling to provide more bone for direct implant support1, 10-12

Power to choose advanced bearing technologies to match patient demands

Longevity® Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene is highly resistant to wear17,18 and aging19-23 with over ten years of clinical history.24

Metasul® Metal-on-Metal Material has a very low wear rate25 with over twenty years of clinical history.25-32

BIOLOX®* delta Ceramic† affords a very low wear rate in a material with improved mechanical properties compared to traditional ceramics.33

Product Features

Shell Screw Hole Options
( View larger image) 		Shell Screw and Dome Hole Features
( View larger image)

Secure Liner Locking Mechanism

Longevity Liners 

The locking groove design is designed to mate and lock with polyethylene liners.

Hard-Bearing Liners

Metasul and BIOLOX delta Liners are secured by a taper locking mechanism consisting of a circumferential 18° taper around the outside rim of the liner.  These liners are designed with a tapered radius for easier insertion. View larger image

References

  1. Unger AS, et al., Evaluation of a porous tantalum uncemented acetabular cup in revision total hip arthroplasty: clinical and radiological results of 60 hips. J Arthroplasty. 20(8); 2005: 1002-1009
  2. Macheras GA et al., Eight to Ten-Year Clinical and Radiographic Outcome of a Porous Tantalum Monoblock Acetabular Component, JOA Vol. 00 No. 02008, In Press
  3. Zhang Y, et al., Interfacial frictional behavior: cancellous bone, cortical bone, and a novel porous tantalum biomaterial. J Musculoskeletal Res. 1999; 3(4): 245-251
  4. Levine B. A new era in porous metals: applications in orthopaedics. Advanced Engineering Materials. August 2008; 10(9): 788-792
  5. Barbella M. Materials marvels: titanium is a top choice for implants, but other materials are gaining popularity. Orthopaedic Design & Technology. September 1, 2008
  6. Data on file at Zimmer
  7. Wannomae KK, et al. In vivo oxidation of retrieved crosslinked ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular components with residual free radicals. J Arthroplasty. 2006; 21(7): 1005-1011
  8. Medel FJ, Kurtz SM, MacDonald DW, et al. First-generation highly crosslinked polyethylene in THA: clinical and material performance. Las Vegas, 55th Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 2009
  9. Collier JP, et al. Comparison of crosslinked polyethylene materials for orthopaedic applications. Clin Orthop. 2003; 414: 289-304
  10. Bhattacharyya S et al. Severe In Vivo Oxidation in a Limited Series of Retrieved Highly-Crosslinked UHMWPE Acetabluar Components with Residual Free Radicals, 50th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Socieity, Paper 0276, Las Vegas, 2004
  11. Jibodh, SR, et al., Minimum Five Year Outcome and Wear Analysis of Large Diameter Femoral Heads on Highly-Cross-linked Polyethylene Liners, Poster No. 2445, 55th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Las Vegas, 2009
  12. Kärrholm, Digas G, J, Thanner J, Herberts P. Five to seven years experiences of highly crosslinked PE. SICOT Hong Kong, August 2008
  13. McCalden RW, MacDonald SJ, Rorabeck CH, Bourne RB, Chess DG, Charron KD, Wear Rate of Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene in Total Hip Arthroplasty. A Randomized Controlled Study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009; 91: 773-782
  14. Bragdon CR, et al., Minimum 6-year Follow up of Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene in THA, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2007; Number 465: 122–127
  15. Digas et al., Crosslinked vs. Conventional Polyethylene in Bilateral Hybrid THR Randomised Radiostereometric Study, 50th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Poster No. 0319, Las Vegas, 2004
  16. Bragdon, CR, et al., Seven to Ten Year Follow-Up of Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene Liners in Total Hip Arthroplasty, Poster No. 2444, 55th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Las Vegas, 2009
  17. Rieker CB, Schön R, Köttig P, et al. Development and validation of a second-generation Metal-on-Metal bearing: laboratory study and analysis of retrievals. J Arthroplasty. 2004;19 (8, suppl 3): 5-11
  18. Sharma S, et al., Metal-on-Metal total hip joint replacement: a minimum follow-up of five years. Hip Int, 2007; 17: 70–77
  19. Migaud H, et al., Cementless Metal-on-Metal hip arthroplasty in patients less than 50 years of age.Comparison with a matched control group using ceramic-on-polyethylene after a minimum 5-year follow- up. J Arthroplasty 19 (8, suppl 3), 2004, 23–28
  20. Long WT, et al., An American experience with Metal-on-Metal total hip arthroplasties. A 7-year followup study. J Arthroplasty 19 (8, suppl 3), 2004: 29–34
  21. Jessen N, et al., Metal/Metal – A new (old) hip bearing system in clinical evaluation. Prospective 22. Delaunay CP, Metal-on-metal bearings in cementless primary total hip arthroplasty J Arthroplasty 19(8, suppl 3), 2004: 35–40
  22. Grübl A, et al., Long-term follow-up of Metal-on-Metal total hip replacement. J Orthop Res, 2007; 25: 841–848
  23. Eswaramoorthy V, et al., The Metasul Metal-on-Metal articulation in primary total hip replacement: clinical and radiological results at ten years. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 2008; 90B: 1278–1283
  24. Delaunay CP, et al., THA using Metal-on-Metal articulation in active patients younger than 50 years. Clin Orthop Relat Res., 466, 2008: 340-346
  25. Kuntz M, Validation of a New High Performance Alumina Matrix Composite for use in Total Joint Replacement. Seminars in Arthroplasty 17, 2006: 141-145
  26. Muratoglu OK, et al. Knee-simulator testing of conventional and Crosslinked polyethylene tibial inserts. J Arthroplasty, 2004; 19(7)
  27. Muratoglu OK, Bragdon CR, O’Connor DO, Jasty M, Harris WH. A novel method of crosslinking ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene to improve wear, reduce oxidation, and retain mechanical properties. J Arthroplasty. 2001; 16(2): 149-160
  28. X3 Brochure, The Power of Technology, Stryker, 2006
  29. In a study conducted by the Harris Orthopaedic Biomaterials & Biomechanics Laboratory at Massachusetts GeneralHospital, free radical levels were measured on conventional polyethylene, Crossfire, X3 acetabular liners and Longevity Polyethylene
  30. Amstutz HC, Le Duff MJ, Beaule PE.; Prevention and treatment of dislocation after total hip replacement using large diameter balls. Clin Orthop Relat Res. Dec. 2004; (429): 108-116
  31. Cuckler JM, Moore KD, Lombardi AV Jr., McPherson E, Emerson R; Large versus small femoral heads in metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty, J Arthroplasty. Dec. 2004; 19(8 Suppl 3): 41-44
  32. Wang A, Yue S, Bobyn JD, et al: Surface characterization of metal-on-metal implants tested in a hip simulator. Wear 225, 1999: 708-715
  33. Fisher J, Ingham E, Stone MH, et al: Wear and debris generation in artificial hip joints. In: Reliability and Long-term Results of Ceramics in Orthopaedics. Sedel L, William G (eds), Stuttgart-New York, Thieme. 1999: 78-81
  34. Streicher RM, Semlitsch M, Schön R, et al: Metal-on-metal articulation for artificial hip joints: laboratory study and clinical results. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H 210, 1996: 223-232
  35. Tipper Jl, et al. Quantitative analysis of the wear and wear debris from low and high carbon content cobalt chrome alloy used in metal-on-metal hip replacements. J Mat Sci: Mat Med. 1999; 10(6): 353-362
  36. Scholes SC, Unsworth A: Pin-on-plate studies on the effect of rotation on the wear of metal-on-metal samples. J Mat Sci Mater Med 12, 2001: 299-303
  37. St. John KR, Zardiackas LD, Poggie RA: Wear evaluation of cobalt-chromium alloy for use in a metalon-metal hip prosthesis. J. Biomed Mater Res 68B, 2004: 1-14
  38. Firkins PJ, Tipper JL, Saadatzadeh MR, et al: Quantitative analysis of wear and wear debris from metal-on-metal hip prostheses tested in a physiological hip joint simulator. Biomed Mater Eng 11, 2001: 143-57
  39. Chan FW, Bobyn JD, Medley JB, et al. Wear and lubrication of metal-on-metal implants. Clin Orthop. 1999; 369: 10-24
  40. Jin ZM. Analysis of mixed lubrication mechanism in metal-on-metal hip joint replacements. Proc Instn Mech Engrs. 2002; 216 (part H): 85-89
  41. CeramTec AG, internal data on file 06.01854.012 0906-H20 ©2009 Zimmer, Inc.