Oxinium is the brand name of a material used for replacement joints manufactured by the reconstructive orthopedic surgery division of medical devices company Smith & Nephew.
The ceramic surface is extremely abrasion resistant compared to traditional metal implant materials such as cobalt chromium.
It also has a lower coefficient of friction against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the typical counterface material used in total joint replacements.
The metal substrate of Oxinium implants makes components easier to manufacture and gives them greater toughness (a combination of strength and ductility).
[citation needed] Current competitive reduced-wear options in total hip arthroplasty (THA) are ceramic-on-ceramic, metal-on-metal, and metal-on-cross-linked polyethylene.