Micromotion at the head-stem taper junction of total hip prostheses is influenced by prosthesis design-, patient- and surgeon-related factors.

Taper junctions of modular hip prostheses are susceptible to fretting and crevice corrosion. Prevalence and significance increase for cobalt-chromium heads assembled on titanium-alloy stems. Retrieval and in-vitro studies have identified micromotion between the taper components to accelerate the corrosion process.