Fracture of an S-ROM stem at the sleeve-stem junction

An Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy Is Necessary for the Removal of Broken Modular Metaphyseal Engaging Femoral Stems

BACKGROUND

Modular metaphyseal engaging (MME) femoral components in total hip arthroplasty (THA) allow optimized femoral length, offset, and anteversion and are useful in patients with unusual proximal femoral anatomy. Fretting, corrosion, and stem fractures above the modular sleeve are complications associated with these implants. The purpose of this study was to identify failure mechanisms of retrieved MME femoral components at our institution, identify all broken stem cases, and evaluate how often an extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was required for removal.

METHODS

All consecutively retrieved MME femoral components from September 2002 to May 2023 were reviewed. Patient demographics, procedure information, component specifications, indications for removal, and requirements for further revision surgery were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were calculated for variables of interest.

RESULTS

There were 131 retrieved MME components. The mean age at surgery was 59 years (range, 28 to 75), 49% were women, mean body mass index was 29.4 (range, 20.7 to 33.3), and mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 2.4 ± 0.5. There were 102 (78%) stems of 1 design (stem A), and 29 (22%) stems of a different design (stem B). Of 131 components, 10 (7.6%) failed secondary to stem fracture proximal to the modular sleeve. Four of 102 (4%) of stem A and 6 of 29 (21% of stem B) fractured. All broken stems required additional intervention for removal during revision THA, using an ETO (N = 9) or cortical window (N = 1) in which an intraoperative proximal femoral fracture occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Broken MME stems present a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons during revision THA. When a stem fracture occurs above the ingrown sleeve, the distal splines may have osseous interdigitation into the clothespin. Thus, when revising a broken MME stem, an ETO should be performed, and the segment should be long enough to allow distal access.

Mean 23-Year Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a Modular Femoral Stem With Metaphyseal Fixation Sleeve

BACKGROUND

Although the modular sleeve concept for femoral implants has several advantages, studies reporting on greater than 20-year outcomes are limited. This study aimed to report the mean 23-year results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a modular stem with metaphyseal fixation sleeve.

METHODS

This study reviewed primary THAs performed using a modular stem between October 1994 and April 1998. Of the 272 hips (221 patients) identified, 220 hips (177 patients) satisfying the minimum 20-year follow-up were included. The Harris Hip Score was used for clinical evaluation. Final hip radiographs were analyzed to evaluate the implant stability and the extent of femoral osteolysis. The mean follow-up duration was 23 years (range, 20 to 28).

RESULTS

The mean Harris Hip Score improved from 38 points (range, 26 to 67) preoperatively to 90 points (range, 71 to 100) at the final follow-up (P < .001). Femoral osteolysis was observed in 146 hips (67.1%), but 145 were located proximal to the osseo-integrated sleeve. Overall, 4 femoral revisions were performed; 2 for chronic infection, one for aseptic loosening, and one for periprosthetic femoral fracture. Of the 19 (8.6%) periprosthetic femoral fractures, the most common type was Vancouver AG (13 hips). One (0.5%) asymptomatic distal stem fracture occurred, while no complications were identified at the stem-sleeve junction. Implant survivorship free of any femoral revision was 98.3% at 23 years.

CONCLUSIONS

A THA using a modular stem with metaphyseal fixation sleeve demonstrated 98.3% stem survivorship with excellent clinical outcomes at a mean follow-up of 23 years in non-obese patients.

Is taper corrosion in modular revision hip stem junctions associated with patient or implant specific factors? A retrieval analysis

Implant modularity within revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers multiple implant configurations and allows surgeons a high intraoperative flexibility to restore functionality to the patients joint, even in complex revision cases. However, a rare but devastating complication for patients, clinicians and manufacturers presenting a breakage of the taper junction between the distal stem and the proximal implant part. Aside from implant and patient specific risk factors, corrosion and fretting at the stem junctions have been associated with taper failure. Whether corrosive processes are a precursor of failure or rather an accompaniment of material fatigue is thereby still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the incidence of taper corrosion in a collection of 17 retrievals from a single type (MRP-Titan, Peter Brehm GmbH) and on the correlation of taper corrosion to implant and patient specific factors. None of the implants was revised for problems related to the taper junction, corrosion or the implant itself. The modular stem junction of all retrievals was visually rated with respect to corrosion, fretting and surface contamination. Additionally, the stability of taper junctions of retrievals where the proximal part with the neck was still assembled to the stem was determined by measuring the loosening moment of the securing screw and the push-out-force for taper dissociation. There was no difference between the mean push-out-force of the retrievals (14 kN ± 1.2 kN) and new reference samples (12.6 kN ± 0.5 kN). Approximately one third of the investigated retrievals showed considerable taper corrosion. The extent of corrosion increased with time in vivo and contamination of the neck piece, while it decreased with the loosening moment of the locking screw. The parameters femoral head offset, neck piece length, lateralized neck pieces, obesity of patients and septic/aseptic revision were not correlated to taper corrosion. Taper corrosion seems to occur regularly in modular taper junctions and is not necessarily connected to taper failure. A correct assembly of the junction and avoiding taper surface contamination during revision surgery is mandatory.

Fracture of a Sivash-Range of Motion Femoral Stem at the Diaphyseal Spline

We discuss one of the four reported cases involving the fracture of a spline of the Sivash-range of motion (S-ROM) femoral prosthesis. It occurred in a 71-year-old female patient and was fully discovered during stem extraction in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The fractured spline was successfully removed using a reverse curette and fluoroscopic guidance. The placement of a new S-ROM femoral prosthesis was successful, and there were no other orthopedic complications.