Most studies about hemi-arthroplasty of hip have focused on clinical aspects. Design features of various implants of hemi-arthroplasty have not been studied extensively. The aim was to investigate the relationships between radiological variables and possible mode of failure in various hemiarthroplasty implants in intracapsular neck of femur fractures.

A retrospective review of 42 hemi hip arthroplasties, Austin Moore and Thompson prosthesis by Biomet, Medical Product Service (Tipsan) and Smit Medimed (SMPL) used in our hospital. Controversy exists between indication for a particular design in an unselected series of patients once excluding the choice of cementing or uncementing the prosthesis. In monoblock prosthesis not only the head-neck region affects the stability but also the stem fit in proximal femur.

Surgeon preference to technique and approach excluded. Premorbidly all patients were mobilising independently. 5 criteria reviewed. 1) head size of prosthesis 2) neck length 3) prosthesis stem shaft angle 4) stem-cortical distance ratio and 5) shape of the femoral canal as classified by Dorr. Head size compared in AP views of involved hip and normal head size compared with that of prosthesis. A difference <2 mm or >3 mm indicative of incorrect size. Neck length measured by the vertical distance from center of head to superior aspect greater trochanter was zero. A range of +/− 5 mm was acceptable. Neck shaft angle with a difference of >5 degrees was indicative of varus position of the stem. Canals of the proximal femoral categorized as a) stove pipe b) champagne c) fluted varieties radiologically. X-ray magnification corrected. All measurements were done on immediate postoperative radiographs.

Stability of various design features of straight stemmed and curved implants are dependant on the anterior bowing angle and canal ratio of femur to prosthesis. A prospective study with CT from selected shapes of the proximal femoral is being carried out. Inappropriate head size as reported by Thompson or neck length was related to incidence of dislocation resulting in failure. Our findings emphasise importance of careful selection of a particular implant design towards the morphology of the femoral canal.