Introduction

A metal ion study was undertaken in patients who had received an articular surface replacement. The design of these components is optimised in line with lubrication theory and produces low levels of wear in hip joint simulators.

The long-term performance of surface replacement devices remains unknown. One area of concern is the viability of the bone in the proximal portion of the femur. Previous studies, using a single time point, have shown reduced loss in bone stock compared to total hip replacement and minimal difference with the contra-lateral, unaffected hip. The aim of this study is use DEXA scanning to report the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) which take place at different time points up to 5 years post-op in the same patients following implantation. The effect of component placement will also be considered

Thirty patients were recruited (24 male, 6 female; 16 left hip 14 right, mean age at surgery 53 years, range 28–65). DEXA measurements were taken post- operatively and at 3, 12, 24 and 60 months. During the study 2 patients were revised and 8 were lost to follow-up. Thus the number of patients available at each follow-up were 28, 29, 23 and 20 respectively. The regions of interest were R1 (neck region), R2 (Gruen zones 2,6) and R3 (Gruen zones 3,5).

BMD in zones R1, R2 and R3 post-operatively were significantly different, 0.955, 1.114 and 1.457g/cm2 respectively (p< 0.0001). In the R1, BMD reduced at 3m to 95.0% (p=0.005) and then recovered to higher than the post-op level 102.2% (p=0.241) by 12m, and further increases to 103.5% (p=0.019) at 24m and 103.9% (p=0.057) at 60m.

In zone R2, BMD reduced at 3m (97.4%, p=0.02) but recovered to post-op levels after 12m and is maintained thereafter. In zone R3 there were no significant differences from post-op. In zone R1 at 3m, 20/28 cases (71%) had a BMD that was less than the immediate post-operative value. At 12m only 12/29 cases (41%) had reduced BMD, the balance (59%) undergoing an increase. The comparable values at 60m follow-up were 43% and 57%. There was a trend for patients with higher post-op BMD to undergo a greater reduction at 3m whilst showing a greater level of recovery after 60m. However patients with higher post-op BMD had the highest 3m and 60m values. There was a trend for older patients to have a lower post-op BMD although this was not translated into greater reductions in BMD. There was no obvious correlation between femoral component angle and BMD. However there was a trend for components with a higher cup angle to undergo a greater reduction in BMD at both 3m and 60m. The current cohort was dominated by male patients and therefore comparison by gender was not possible.

Changes in BMD were confined to the neck region (R1) and Gruen zones 2, 6 (R2). The finding that BMD reduces in R1 at 3m but by 12m has recovered to postop levels in R2 and in R1 has exceeded post-op levels, strongly suggests that whatever inter-operative trauma takes places is quickly repaired and changes beyond 12m are minimal out to 60m.

Surface replacement is widely used as a treatment for younger patients requiring hip replacement. However the long-term performance of such devices remains unknown. One area of concern is the viability of the bone in the proximal portion of the femur. These concerns are related to the trauma which the proximal femur is exposed to during the operative procedure and the level of vascularity which is subsequently attained. Previous studies have used a single time point and shown reduced loss in bone stock compared to total hip replacement and minimal difference with the contra-lateral unaffected hip. The aim of this study is to report the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) which take place at different time points in the same patients following implantation using DEXA scanning. The effect of component placement and metal ion levels will also be considered

A total of twenty-six patients were recruited (18 male, 5 female; 15 left hip 11 right, mean age at surgery 56 years, range 31–69) who had DEXA measurements at all three time points post-op, 120 and 420 days (4 and 14 months). Measurements were taken in the neck region and Gruen zones 6 and 7. Metal ion levels were measured in whole blood using the high resolution ICP-MS technique.

The BMD in the neck region, zone 7 and 6 post-operatively were 0.945, 1.092 and 1.451g/cm2 respectively. In the neck region BMD reduces at 120 days (96.5%) and then increases to higher than the post-op level at 420 days (103.6%, differences between all three groups: p< 0.008).

In zone 7, BMD drops at 120 days (98.2%, p=0.03) but recovers to higher than post-op levels after 420 days (101.65%)but not significantly so (p=0.13). In zone 6 there are no significant differences at any ime points.

Despite the wide variation in the immediate postoperative bone density (0.70–1.25g/cm2), there is no obvious relationship between this value and the capacity of the bone to recover from the operative trauma

Twenty-three of these patients were also part of a metal ion study previously reported. There was no relationship between the combined metal ion levels (chromium+cobalt) at 12 months and the changes in BMD in the neck region at 4 or 14 months.

There was no significant difference in the response of the male and female patients. There was no significant relationship between changes in BMD and cup abduction angles, femoral component inclination nor acetabular component diameter.

This is a short-term study, however it is reassuring that whilst BMD reduces in the neck and Gruen zone 7, by 420 days (14 months) it has recovered to postop levels and in zone 7 has exceeded the post-op levels. Furthermore this response appears to be unrelated to patient factors and component position.