Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Trabecular Titanium™ is an innovative material characterised by an high open porosity and composed by multi-planar regular hexagonal cells. It is not a traditional coating and its tri-dimensional structure has been studied to optimise osteointegration. Furthermore, it has excellent mechanical properties, as a very high tensile and fatigue resistance and an elastic module very similar to the that of the trabecular bone. The aim of this study is to evaluate the osteointegration and bone remodelling measuring the longitudinal pattern of change in BMD around a cementless acetabular cup made from Trabecular Titanium™ (Delta TT cup, Lima Corporate, Italy) in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).
METHODS
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) analysis, radiographic evaluation on standard AP and lateral views and clinical evaluation with Harris Hip Score (HHS) and SF-36 were performed at 1 week, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery.
RESULTS
Between February 2009 and June 2010, 72 patients underwent primary THA with Delta TT cup at 4 centres. There were 36 (50%) female and 36 (50%) male with an average age of 63 (range 39-75).
Preliminary results include 72 patients with 56 at 3 months, 42 at 6 months and 28 at 12 months. The mean HHS improved from 48 points (range 14-79) preoperatively to 88 (range 74-100) at 3 months, to 94 (range 71-100) at 6 months and to 97 (range 94-100) at 12 months. SF-36 reported a progressive improvement of all domains.
An initial transient decrease of the bone mineral density (BMD) occurred between 1 week and 3 months after surgery, then bone mass returns to baseline values after 6 months and increased at 12 months. No radiolucent lines nor osteolysis have reported and no revision occurred.
There were 2 complications not related to the implant on study: one dislocation solved with a close reduction and one dislocation solved with a revision of the neck and the head, but not compromising the cup.
CONCLUSIONS
Delta TT acetabular cup allows to obtain a very good primary stability, thanks to the high friction coefficient of the Trabecular Titanium™, followed by a good and fast osteointegration, as reported by early DEXA outcomes. Preliminary results showed also a very good clinical and functional improvement. Long-term follow-up is ongoing in order to prove these promising results.
