Total hip arthroplasty: Implant breakage as a mechanism of failure

There are many failure mechanisms for total hip arthroplasty. The most common ones include fixation loosening, infection, and instability. Failure from implant breakage is rare and has only been reported in a few publications. It is increasingly rare with current biomaterials, designs and surgical techniques. Implant breakage and other mechanical failures have been reported with some of the contemporary implant designs over the past 2 decades. This review focuses on this particular failure mechanism for total hip arthroplasty.