Abstract
Metal on metal hip resurfacing is increasing in popularity for the young, active patient despite the fact that no long term results are available. The potential advantages of the conservative nature of the prosthesis coupled with the stability of the large diameter bearings and the much reduced wear compared to conventional metal-UHMWPE hips are clear. We present the results of a consecutive series from a single surgeon using a modern device from 1997 to date. All hips used cementless cups and cemented heads and were implanted using a posterior approach. All patients were reviewed annually from the time of operation.
Between September 1997 and March 2004, 345 primary Total Hip Resurfacings were performed by one surgeon. No cases were lost to follow-up. The average age of the patient group was 52 years, range (21–74 years), 190 were male (30 bilaterals) and 104 were female (21 bilaterals) & there were 11 reoperations. The follow-up ranged from 79 months to 3 months, mean follow-up was 29 months. With a Kaplan-Meier survivorship of 94% at 7 postoperative years.
Of the reoperations there were; 5 fractured necks of femur, 3 aseptic cup loosenings, 2 femoral head collapses and 1 joint infection. All 5 femoral neck fractures occurred within 3 months of the primary operation.
This series is one of the longest using a currently available device and the medium term results are encouraging with revision rates occuring within agreed national standards. It should be noted that the numbers of implantations increased as time went on which skews the follow-up slightly. We remain cautiously optimistic about the long term results of this type of device.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Roger Lemaire. Correspondence should be addressed to EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
