THE RESULTS OF THE ELITE PLUS FEMORAL STEM IN TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENTS. A MEDIUM TERM REPORT.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to asses the results of total hip replacements using the Elite Plus femoral stem.

During the period 1995 to 2000, 212 total hip replacements were done using the Elite Plus femoral stem. These were followed up prospectively. The cohort of patients included 11 with bilateral hip replacements. 38% of patients were male and 62% were female. The average age at surgery was 61 years, with 18% being younger that 50 years at the time of surgery. All hip replacements were done using the same surgical and cementing techniques. Both cemented and uncemented cups were used in this cohort of patients.

2 patients died peri-operatively, and 22 hips were lost to follow-up. 6 hips have been revised, with 1 revision being due to sepsis and 5 due to loosening. A further 4 hips have radiographic evidence of early loosening, and 1 other hip has developed late sepsis. None of these 5 has yet been revised. Our survivorship at an average of 9 years is 97%.

The survivorship of total hip replacements using the Elite Plus femoral stem in our unit is 97% at an average of 9 years. This compares very well with the results reported in other series. We do note though that there are 5 hips that may need revision, and this would bring the survivorship down to 94%. We feel that our good results are due to careful attention to surgical and cementing techniques, and this may explain our improved results compared to previous reports.