Does the line-to-line cementing technique of the femoral stem create an adequate cement mantle?

A comparison of cemented femoral fixation via anterior versus posterior approach total hip arthroplasty: an analysis of 60,739 total hip arthroplasties

BACKGROUND

Anterior approach total hip arthroplasty (THA) decreases the rate of dislocation but increases femoral-sided complications in the way of periprosthetic fractures and component loosening. A cemented prosthesis may reduce femoral-sided complications and improve the risk:benefit profile of anterior approach THA.

METHODS

Data from the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry were analysed for patients undergoing primary THA via the anterior or posterior approach using a cemented polished femoral stem from January 2015 to December 2021. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative percent revision (CPR) for all causes and CPR for femoral component loosening and fracture. The CPR for the primary outcome measures were compared between the anterior and posterior approach and adjusted for age, sex, ASA score, BMI and femoral head size.

RESULTS

The study included 60,739 THAs with cemented stems (10,742 anterior, 49,997 posterior). The rate of revision of the anterior versus the posterior approach did not significantly differ (HR 0.87 (95% CI, 0.74-1.03), p = 0.100). Anterior approach THA had a significantly higher rate of revision for femoral component loosening (HR 5.06 [95% CI, 3.08-8.30], p < 0.001); and a decreased rate of revision for infection (HR 0.59 [95% CI, 0.43-0.81], p = 0.001) and dislocation/instability (HR 0-3 months 0.48 [95% CI, 0.27-0.83], p = 0.008; HR >3 months 0.30 [95% CI, 0.15-0.61], p < 0.001). There was no difference in the rate of revision surgery for fracture between the 2 approaches (HR 1.01 [95% CI, 0.71-1.43]), p = 0.975).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant difference in overall revision rates with cemented femoral fixation performed with an anterior or posterior approach. Cemented fixation performed with the anterior approach partly mitigates femoral complications with no difference in the revision rate for fracture but an increased rate of femoral component loosening.

[Current design and cement mantle thickness in hip arthroplasty : Theory and analysis of register data]

BACKGROUND

In this article, an overview and comparison of the most commonly used cemented hip stems, grouped into different stem types and cement mantle thickness, is given to see which combination performs well.

METHODOLOGY

Revision rates of cemented stem types were categorized from the Endoprosthesis Register-Germany, and 3‑ and 5‑year revision rates were reported and analyzed. For the research, the focus was on the Exeter, C‑Stem, MS-30, Excia, Bicontact, Charnley, Müller straight stem, Twinsys, Corail, Avenir, Quadra, and the Lubinus SP II stems. An important aspect was which stem is preferred to be implanted and which cementing technique is used with regard to the planned cement mantle thickness. In order to identify a trend in cemented hip arthroplasty, data from the Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Swiss, New Zealand, English and Australian arthroplasty registers were also compared.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Most countries use cemented prostheses according to the taper slip principle (Exeter, MS30, C‑Stem etc) or the composite beam (Charnley, Excia, Bicontact), which are implanted with a cement mantle thickness of 2-4 mm. However, a trend has emerged in Germany and Switzerland towards the line-to-line technique, with a planned cement mantle thickness of 1 mm (Twinsys, Corail, Avenir, Quadra), following the principle of the Müller straight stem prosthesis and the Kerboul-Charnley prosthesis, even though these are postulated to be "French paradoxes" in themselves. In the EPRD 5‑year results, the newer line-to-line prostheses seem to perform slightly worse. The best results are achieved by the "MS 30" in Germany and the "Exeter" in England. These are polished straight stems with centralizer and subsidence space at the apex with a 2-4 mm cement mantle in good cementing technique.

Correlation between shape-closed femoral stem design and bone cement implantation syndrome in osteoporotic elderly femoral neck fracture undergoing cemented hip arthroplasty: A retrospective case-control study in 128 patients

BACKGROUND

Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a serious and potentially fatal complication especially in patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fracture (OFNF) undergoing cemented hip arthroplasty (CHA). Recent studies showed that the shape-closed femoral stem profile could lead to a significant increase of the intramedullary pressure during cementation and prosthesis insertion. This study aimed to (1) correlate the use of shaped-closed femoral stem and other perioperative risk factors with severe grade of BCIS grade 2 or 3: BCIS gr2/3, and (2) identify the prevalence of BCIS in the elderly patients with OFNF and treated with CHA.

HYPOTHESIS

Large wedge-shaped (or "shape-closed") femoral stem design would significantly associate with BCIS gr2/3 in the elderly patients who sustained OFNF and underwent CHA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 128 OFNF patients, who aged over 75years and underwent CHA were retrospectively reviewed and then allocated into 2 groups: SC Group (use shape-closed femoral stem, n=40) and FC Group (use force-closed femoral stem, n=88). BCIS was grading in all patients according to Donaldson classification. Perioperative data between the patients with BCIS-gr2/3 and those with BCIS grade 0 or 1 (BCIS-gr0/1) were compared. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for BCIS-gr2/3.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overall BCIS and BCIS-gr2/3 was 32.8% (n=42) and 6.2% (n=8), respectively. The total in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were 2.3% and 4.7%, respectively. The major perioperative complication in patients with BCIS-gr2/3 was significantly higher compared to those in patients with BCIS-gr0/1 (62.5% vs. 10.0%, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age>90years (OR=9.4, 95% CI: 1.4-62.9, p=0.02), preinjury Parker mobility score<4 (OR=48.8; 95% CI: 2.7-897.2, p=0.008) and shape-closed femoral stem used (OR=19.1; 95% CI: 1.8-204.5, p=0.01) were the significant independent predictors for BCIS-gr2/3 in these patients.

CONCLUSION

BCIS in OFNF patients undergoing CHA is common and associates with a high major perioperative complication rate. Our initial hypothesis is validated as the patients at risk for BCIS-gr2/3 are those whose CHA procedures use a shape-closed femoral stem design and with extreme age, and having poor preinjury ambulatory status. Therefore, we recommended using cementless stem as the first option in OFNF. However, if CHA is needed, strict guideline for cement insertion should be followed with force-closed stem application to avoid the risk of BCIS-gr2/3.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; retrospective case-control study.

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.

The Effect of a Distal Centralizer on Cemented Femoral Stems in Arthroplasty Shown on Radiographs and SPECT/CT: A Case Report

CASE

A 70-year-old female patient underwent total hip arthroplasty (HA) using a stem cemented line-to-line without centralizer. Postoperatively, she complained of load-dependent thigh pain. Conventional radiographs identified cortical overload because of a distal cement mantle discontinuity at the level of the stem's tip, confirmed by single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography scan (SPECT/CT). After cement-in-cement revision using a stem with centralizer, pain ceased rapidly. The cortical overload disappeared, as confirmed on a following SPECT/CT performed for low back pain.

CONCLUSION

In HA, the stem's tip may cause overload on the bone's cortex if the cement mantle is incomplete. Implanting a stem with centralizer avoids or cures this.