03 March 2026
Advanced Ceramics in Shoulder Arthroplasty: A New Standard in Wear Reduction
Since the early 1970s, Mathys/Enovis has been committed to researching, developing and manufacturing bioceramics, driven by the clear advantages of these materials: exceptionally low wear rates, high strength and toughness, excellent wettability and biological inertness.¹⁷ Thanks to these properties, ceramics are an effective treatment option not only for young and active patients but for a broad range of clinical needs.
Enovis uses premium ceramic materials for its inlays. Their low wear, mechanical robustness, favourable wettability and inert biological behaviour¹³,¹⁸,¹⁹ make them an excellent choice for long‑term implant performance. These benefits further support the use of ceramics across diverse patient populations.
Wear simulations show that both the ceramys ceramic inlay and the vitamys (PE) glenosphere of the Affinis Inverse shoulder prosthesis exhibit significantly lower wear compared with UHMWPE (PE) or cobalt‑chromium (CoCr) components. In fact, the optimized vitamys/ceramys pairing achieves an 82% reduction in wear compared with the traditional CoCr/UHMWPE combination.
Allergic reactions to metal ions are a relevant concern for both patients and clinicians. Materials such as ceramics, titanium and PE/vitamys offer suitable alternatives for individuals with sensitivities to nickel, cobalt, chromium or molybdenum. The Affinis System provides these implant options as standard solutions, ensuring availability for cases involving metal hypersensitivity.
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