A Large-Scale Fifteen-Year Minimum Survivorship of a Cementless Triple Tapered Femoral Stem

Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Patients 50 Years of Age and Younger: A 20-year Follow-Up Analysis

BACKGROUND

Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) has been an excellent bearing for total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to improved wear characteristics compared to conventional materials. Patients 50 years of age or younger are at high risk for wear-related complications of their THA, and few studies have followed these patients who have HXPLE into the third decade.

METHODS

In a retrospective review of 88 consecutive THAs performed in 77 patients aged 50 years and younger (mean 41; range, 20 to 50), in which HXLPE was utilized, they were evaluated for their clinical and radiographic results at an average of 20-year follow-up (range, 18 to 24). The current study reports on longer-term follow-up from our previously published series at shorter follow-up times. Patients were categorized by femoral head material: cobalt chrome (n = 14), ceramic (n = 30), and oxidized zirconium (n = 22) and by femoral head size: 26 mm (n = 12), 28 mm (n = 46), and 32 mm (n = 8). Harris Hip Scores were collected preoperatively and at the most recent follow-up. Radiographs were evaluated for linear and volumetric wear, radiolucent lines, and osteolysis.

RESULTS

Mean Harris Hip Scores improved from 47.1 (standard deviation [SD] 8.8) preoperatively to 92.0 (SD 7.7) (P < .0001) at 20-year follow-up. There was one hip that was revised for recurrent instability, and no hip demonstrated radiographic evidence of loosening or osteolysis. The mean polyethylene linear wear rate was 0.017 (SD 0.012) mm/y, and the mean polyethylene volumetric wear rate was 3.15 (SD 2.8) mm3/year, with no significant differences based on articulation type or head size.

CONCLUSIONS

Total hip arthroplasty with HXLPE in patients ≤ 50 years of age continues to demonstrate excellent long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes with low wear characteristics at 20-year follow-up, regardless of femoral head material or size.

Fully hydroxyapatite-coated compaction broached and triple-tapered stem may reduce the risk of stress shielding after primary total hip arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) around the fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated compaction broached and triple-tapered stem, namely, Polarstem, after total hip arthroplasty (THA) are currently unknown. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate clinical outcomes of Polarstem, mainly postoperative temporal changes in BMD around the stem for 2 years, and to compare them with those of HA-coated and non-HA-coated tapered-wedge stems.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 100 consecutive patients who underwent THA using Polarstem (n = 38), HA-coated Anthology (n = 31), and non-HA-coated Anthology (n = 31). BMD was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in seven regions according to the Gruen zones. Postoperatively, BMD around the stem was assessed within 2 months (baseline BMD) and at 6, 12, and 24 months. A change in BMD was defined as the value calculated by dividing each postoperative BMD value at 6, 12, and 24 months by the baseline BMD value. Changes in BMD and radiographic parameters such as stress shielding and spot welds were compared among the three stems.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of stress shielding in the Polarstem group was significantly lower than those in the other two groups (p = 0.007). The change in BMD in Zone 7 of Polarstem was significantly more than that of the other two groups at 12 and 24 months postoperatively (p = 0.030 and p = 0.009, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Polarstem, a fully HA-coated compaction broached and triple-tapered stem, maintained BMD around the femoral calcar until 2 years postoperatively and could reduce the risk of stress shielding compared with tapered-wedge stems.

Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up of Total Hip Arthroplasty With a Collarless Triple-Tapered Polished Cemented Stem With Line-to-Line Implantation Using a Direct Anterior Approach

BACKGROUND

The Trilliance stem (B. Braun-Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany), a novel collarless triple-tapered polished stem, was introduced in 2009. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological results of the Trilliance stem with line-to-line implantation in primary total hip arthroplasty using a direct anterior approach.

METHODS

A consecutive retrospective series of 130 patients (151 hips) who underwent total hip arthroplasty between February 2009 and August 2011 were evaluated for a minimum of 10 years. Of these, 87.4% had a diagnosis of secondary osteoarthritis based on developmental hip dysplasia. Clinical and radiological results, complications were evaluated and survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 10.7 years (range, 10.0-12.1). Thirteen hips (13 patients, 6.8%) were lost to follow-up. Adequate cementation (Barrack grade A) was achieved in 136 hips (93.8%) 1 week post-operatively. Nearly all (144 hips, 99.3%) had been inserted within the range of 3°. No significant differences were identified between high- (≥30 procedures/year) and low- (<30 procedures/year) volume surgeons. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with revision of the femoral component for aseptic loosening, revision of the femoral component for any reason and revision of either component for any reason as the end points, cumulative survivorship was 100.0%, 97.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 95.4-100.0) and 96.5% (95% CI 93.8-99.3) at 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Trilliance stem with line-to-line implantation using a direct anterior approach has an excellent clinical and radiological outcome at a minimum of 10 years' follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Retrospective cohort study.

Wear resistance of first-generation highly cross-linked annealed polyethylene in cementless total hip arthroplasty is maintained 20 years after surgery

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of first-generation annealed highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) in cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 29 patients (35 hips) who underwent THA between December 2000 and February 2002. The survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Hip joint function was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Two-dimensional polyethylene wear was estimated using Martell's Hip Analysis Suite. We calculated the wear rates between years 1 and 5, 5 and 10, 10 and 15, and 15 and final follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 19.1 years (SD 0.6; 17.3 to 20.1). The 19-year overall survival rate with the end point of all-cause revision was 97.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91 to 100). The mean JOA score improved from 43.2 (SD 10.6; 30 to 76) before surgery to 90.2 (SD 6.4; 76 to 98) at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no osteolysis or loosening of the acetabular or femoral components. The overall steady-state wear rate was 0.013 mm/year (SD 0.012). There was no hip with a steady-state wear rate of > 0.1 mm/year. There was no significant difference in wear rates for each period. We found no significant correlation between the wear rate and age, body weight, BMI, or cup inclination.

CONCLUSION

First-generation annealed HXLPE shows excellent wear resistance and no acceleration of wear for approximately 20 years, with low all-cause revision rates. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):200-205.

Acoustic characteristics of broaching procedure for post-operative stem subsidence in cementless total hip arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Avoiding stem subsidence is crucial for achieving better outcome for cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model for the incidence of post-operative stem subsidence using full quantitative acoustic parameters in hammering sound during the broaching procedure and to assess the accuracy of this prediction model.

METHODS

The acoustic parameters of the hammering sounds during a broaching procedure for 55 hips in 49 patients who underwent THAs with cementless taper-wedged stem were analysed. The stem subsidence was assessed at one month post-operatively, and the relationship between the acoustic parameters and the value of stem subsidence was investigated.

RESULTS

The average stem subsidence was 2.15 ± 2.91 mm. The subsidence 3 mm or more was observed in eleven hips (20%), and 5 mm or more was observed in seven hips (12.7%). Basic patient's characteristics, preoperative femoral morphology and immediate post-operative canal fill ratio and stem alignment were not significantly related to the volume of stem subsidence. Nine acoustic parameters were significantly correlated with the value of subsidence. The prediction model for post-operative subsidence using only acoustic parameters during broaching procedure was established, and this model showed a positive prediction value of 100% and a negative prediction value of 90.6% for post-operative stem subsidence at 5 mm or more.

CONCLUSION

Post-operative stem subsidence can be predicted by using acoustic parameters of the hammering sound during the broaching procedure. Our results suggest that we are at the start of a new era in which novel and innovative smart technologies can be used to assist in orthopaedic surgery.