In the past, the clinical outcome of earlier types of resurfacing hip arthroplasty was often characterised by a high percentage of failures and early mobilisations. An implant retrieval of a Co-Cr head and UHMWPE cup cemented resurfacing hip prosthesis was analysed. The implant was in place 11 years, without any clinical problem for nearly 10 years. The cup was highly worn. There was a complete fracture of the interface between cement and bone at the base of the femural neck. A significant hyperplastic reaction was present at the level of the synovial membrane, with fibrin deposits, hyperplasia of lining cells and a cellular infiltrate formed mostly by macrophages, with occasional giant cells and localised groups of perivascular lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that all lymphocytes were of the T type and that the largest part of macrophages containing debris were not activated. Inside the prosthetic head there were only traces of ossified tissue. This picture indicated that for a long time no viable bone tissue had been in contact with the cement and bone rarefaction was massive.

The study shows an important cause of the failure of earlier types of hip resurfacing arthroplasty, namely the abnormal stress distribution that caused the complete bone rarefaction.

Our clinical experience in treating lower limb deformities by external fixation started in 1982 by applying an Ilizarov external fixation frame. Correcting lower limb deformity by gaining the proper length and the optimal mechanical performance is of the outmost importance and essential for valid restoration of the articular function. We treated 145 patients: 25 patients affected by post-traumatic deformities; 12 patients affected by axial deviation of the knee; 82 patients affected by limb shortening and associated limb deformities; eight patients with lower limb deformities and shortening following pathological hip alterations; and 18 patients affected by severe foot deformities.

It is important to stress that in congenital lower limb deformities both axial deviation and limb shortening contribute to the final picture of the deformity. Combined (hybrid) external fixation provides an adequate correction of the mechanical axis and a proper lengthening of the shorter limb by a corticotomy followed by a gradual distraction.

Coatings for endo-osseous implants have been developed based on phospholipids. Such coatings promote the formation of a very thin superficial rim which is highly enriched with calcium phosphates.

Two phospholipid-based preparations have been compared with a standard hydroxyapatite coating. Preparation S was based on phosphatidyl-serine; preparation C was based on a mixture of phosphatidyl-serine, phosphatidyl-choline and cholesterol. Titanium cylinders spammed with titanium foam were the metallic substrate for the coatings; they were implanted in the femoral canal of New Zealand White rabbits and retrieved after 4, 8 and 26 weeks. A back scattered electron microscopy analysis followed.

Both phospholipid preparations were shown not to have any inhibitory action on bone apposition and growth and did not elicit any adverse fibrous reaction. Pictures of bone in-growth into the cavities of the titanium foam are present. A truly tight apposition between bone and coating was evident only in the comparative group sprayed with hydroxyapatite, but this latter coating was often fragmented and its constituent granules were evident. The phospholipid-based coatings did not show inhibitory action on bone apposition and growth and did not elicit any adverse fibrous reaction.

The rationale for a degradable bioactive glass coating is to lead the bone to appose gradually to the metal without the release of non-degradable particles. Two formulations of bioactive glasses, already described in the literature, have been studied: bg A and bg F. A non-bioactive glass (glass H) was sprayed as a control. Glass-coated Ti6Al4V cylinders were implanted in the femoral canal of New Zealand White rabbits. Samples were analysed by back scattered electron microscopy (BSEM) and electron dispersive analysis (EDX).

Bone was in tight apposition with the coating. As time progressed, images were found where bone showed features of physiological remodelling (newly formed bone filling areas of bone resorption) close to the coating. At the interface the apposition was so tight that it was not possible to discern a clear demarcation, even at higher magnification (more than 2500x). There was a gradual degradation during time and at 10 months bone was found apposed directly to the metal in more than half of the samples. In contrast, the non-bioactive glass coating showed complete integrity at any time examined and a clear demarcation with the coating was evident. Two peculiar features of the behaviour of bioactive glass coatings in vivo are: (a) degradation during time; and (b) promotion of a tight apposition with the newly formed bone.

Aims. Coatings for endo-osseous implants have been developed based on phospholipids. Such coatings promote the formation of a very thin superficial layer which is highly enriched with calcium phosphates. Aim of this study is a comparison of such coatings with an hydroxyapatite coating.

Methods. Two phospholipid-based preparations have been compared with a standard hydroxyapatite coating. Preparation S was based on phosphatidyl-serine; preparation C was based on a mixture of phosphatidyl-serine, phosphatidyl-choline and cholesterol. Titanium cylinders wrapped with titanium foam were the metallic substrate for the coatings; they were implanted in the femural canal of New Zealand White rabbits and retrieved after 4, 8 and 26 weeks. A Back Scattered Electron Microscopy analysis followed.

Results. Both phospholipid preparations showed to have no inhibitory action on bone apposition and growth and did not elicit any adverse fibrous reaction. Pictures of bone in-growth into the cavities of the titanium foam were present. A tight apposition between bone and coating was evident only in the comparative group sprayed with hydroxyapatite, but this latter coating was often fragmented and its constituent granules were evident.

Conclusion. Phospholipid-based coatings showed no inhibitory action on bone apposition and growth and did not elicit any adverse fibrous reaction.

To evaluate the osseointegration enhancement, a consecutive randomized series of 50 on a total of 483 cementless titanium prostheses were prospectically studied. The features of the stem were the following: tapered, straight, low-profile neck, metaphyseal and hystmic fit, proximal 1/3 hydroxyapatite coated (HA) and titanium porous coated (PC). The acetabular component was hemispherical, titanium porous coated. A zircornia or Co/Cr head (28mm) was used. Female were 53% and average age 65. The general diagnosis was ostheoarthritis, congenital hip dysplasia, fracture, aseptic loosening, osteonecrosis, previous femoral osteotomy, previous pelvic osteotomy. Clinical objective assessment was based on the HHS. A patient oriented evaluation (Womac and SF12) was obtained. Radiological assessment was based on the Engh’s method. The general and prospectical group results have been evaluated.

In all the groups the HHS, Womac and SF12 questionnaires showed a statistically significant improvement in quality of life. Consistent evidence of proximal bone ingrowth were present in 100 % (HA) and 96 % (PC), stable proximal fibrous ingrowth in 4 % (PC). Cortical hypertrophy (50 % zone 3–5), stress shielding (56 % zone 1) and pedestal ( one case) were assessed. Nor osteolysis neither subsidence were identified. No significant general complications such as infections or periprosthetic fractures were observed. The use of HA seems to improve the mechanism of osseointegration and earlier clinical outcomes, even if this difference is not significant. Patient oriented evaluation and radiographic assessments confirmed the reliability of this cementless prosthesis. Less osteolysis could be predicted in the future, according to the reported results of other authors in the HA coated stems.