The purpose of the present study was to identify risk factors for femoral loosening and neck fracture for Conserve+ metal-on-metal hybrid surface atrhroplasty.

The first 500 hips (of over 700 implanted by the senior author) in 436 patients were reviewed. Mean age was 48.6 with 74% of males patients.

16 hips were converted to THR secondary to aseptic failure on the femoral side (11 femoral component loosenings and 5 femoral neck fractures). 14 hips showed radiolucencies around the short metaphyseal stem at last follow-up. A retrieval analysis was performed and analyzed specimens compared with the intra operative photos of the prepared femoral head and the post-op X-rays. The cause of neck fractures is multifactorial. Risk factors include: uncovered reamed bone, leaving the component proud, notching the neck, impingement, osteopenia and cysts, and trauma. Avoidance of technical deficiencies and proper patient selection can eliminate neck fractures. Loosening is also multifactorial. Risk factors for loosening included: cysts > 1 cm, small femoral head size, female gender, early cases (before improved acrylic fixation including femoral suctioning measures were instituted) and reduced stem shaft angle.

Meticulous initial preparation of the femoral bone surfaces, drying with suctioning, and maximizing the fixation area are critical when the fixation area is small, especially with osteopenia and cystic degeneration. These techniques have dramatically diminished the incidence of loosening and radiolucencies. Cementing the femoral metaphyseal stem is a meaningful technical improvement towards the prevention of early femoral failure in patients with risk factors.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the-clinical and radiographic factors which determine the enduring fixation of metal on metal hybrid surface arthroplasty.

The first 500 hips (in 436 patients) of a consecutive series of over 700 Conserve® plus were reviewed clinically and radiographically. The patients were 48.6 years-old in average, 74% were male and the dominant etiology was idiopathic osteoarthritis (64.6%). All femoral components were cemented but the femoral metaphyseal stem was cemented in 112 hips and press-fit in the remaining 388.

Average follow-up was 4.8 years (range, 2.7 to 7.8 years). Eighteen hips were converted to a THR, 11 of them for aseptic loosening of the femoral component at an average follow-up of 40.5 months. Put in positives mention fx and loose incidence, survor ship details of loose and fx for other At last review, 14 hips presented metaphyseal stem radiolucencies and 16 hips (3.2%) showed a narrowing of the neck of 10% or more at the interface with the femoral component. None of the components with cemented stems showed femoral radiolucencies, neck narrowing, or were revised for aseptic loosening. Cementing the femoral stem significantly (p = 0.013) reduces the chances of early femoral failure or appearance of a metaphyseal stem radiolucency.

Risk factors for loosening or radioluciences included cysts > 1 cm, small femoral head size, female gender, early cases (before improved acrylic fixation including femoral suctioning measures were instituted) and reduced stem shaft angle. Metal-on-metal surface arthroplasty provides a stable, bone conserving, low morbidity and wear resistant prosthetic solution well suited for young and highly active patients.