DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., has announced a new option for restoring hip mobility in patients who require total hip replacement, the Pinnacle Acetabluar Cup System Ultamet XL hip bearing. This system provides advanced technology for recreating the natural ball and socket joint of the hip to help increase joint stability, range of motion and longevity.

The Ultamet XL metal-on-metal bearing is used with DePuy's exclusive Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System - the only product available that provides surgeons with the option of choosing a polyethylene or metal insert for use with the same outer titanium cup that replaces the socket of the natural hip.

"The Pinnacle cup exhibited 99.9 per cent survivorship at five years," said William P Barrett, MD, Valley Orthopaedic Associates/Proliance Surgeons, Renton, WA. "And, significantly, differences between patients, surgeons, femoral stems, head size, and articulation types did not affect survival."

The Pinnacle Ultamet XL is a modular metal-on-metal bearing option for use in the Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System. Key benefits include, greater range of motion and stability, Ultamet XL bearings offer up to 159 degrees range of motion and 20mm of jump distance (compared to 28 and 36 mm Ultamet bearings). Proven technology, the latest data, presented at the 2007 AAOS annual meeting, shows the Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System has demonstrated 99.9 per cent survivorship at five years.

Significant wear reduction: In a recent wear simulator study, 44mm Ultamet XL bearings reduced early wear (run-in wear) by 92 compared to traditional metal-on-metal bearings.

Optimised bone preservation, by maximizing the size of the femoral head relative to the outer diameter of the acetabular shell, Ultamet XL bearings allow for enhanced stability while preserving acetabular bone.

The performance of hip replacements depends on age, weight, activity level, and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if hip replacement is right for a patient.