Abstract
Aims: The purpose of the study was to obtain long-term results after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with cemented titanium stems typ Mueller-Geradschaft. Methods: 91 patients with a total of 110 THA were clinically and radiologically examined after an average follow-up of 9,5 years (9 to 11). The recruitment was 84%. The Harris score was determined clinically. Radiologically the directly postoperative radiographs were compared to the control radiographs according to the recommendations of Gruen et al. and Johnston et al. Results: In 1 cases (1%) a septical complication appeared after two years which was treated in two-stage surgery. Revisions after aseptic loosening have been carried out in 4 cases (4%). No other cases showed evident signs of loosening and applied revision surgery. Clinically, in all of those 4 cases of aseptic loosening the Harris score remained above 75 points. Altogether in 36 cases more than one RLL was ascertained which were only be observed in zones 1, 7, 8, 14. The body weight was significantly higher (82 kg; d=2.4) in the 4 revisions than in cases without RLL, especially the ratio body weight to surface of the stem was clearly different (1.5 kg/cm2 versus 1 kg/cm2; p< 0.005) in the two patients groups. This did not apply to sex, activity, size or kind of stem, Harris-score, ectopic ossification or body-weight index. Conclusions: Cemented titanium stem protheses showed good long-term results. The biggest possible stem should be implanted. Periodically, radiological controls of THA are necessary because the subjective findings of patients does not correlate to the state of prosthesis loosening
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.