Reproducible fixation with a tapered, fluted, modular, titanium stem in revision hip arthroplasty at 8-15 years follow-up.

Overview

The use of tapered, fluted, modular, distally fixing stems has increased in femoral revision surgery. The goal of this retrospective study was to assess mid-term to long-term outcomes of this implant. Seventy-one hips in 70 patients with a mean age of 69 years were followed for an average of 10 years. Preoperative HHS averaged 50 and improved to 87 postoperatively. Seventy-nine percent hips had Paprosky type 3A or more bone-loss. All stems osseointegrated distally (100%). Two hips subsided >5mm but achieved secondary stability. Sixty-eight percent hips had evidence of bony reconstitution and 21% demonstrated diaphyseal stress-shielding. One stem fractured near its modular junction and was revised with a mechanical failure rate of 1.4%. Distal fixation and clinical improvement were reproducibly achieved with this stem design.