Despite good survivorship analysis for most uncemented tapered straight stems, new proposals modifying stem design in total hip replacement (THR) are being introduced in order to facilitate femoral revision surgery. We have evaluated the clinical and radiological results of four different designs of uncemented tapered straight stems implanted in our institution in order to assess: operative complications, clinical results, survivorship analysis for aseptic loosening and radiographic findings 1008 hips implanted from 1998 to 2006 were prospectively followed for a mean of 12 years (range, 10 to 17). Four uncemented femoral designs employing a tapered straight stem were included: 209 Alloclassic stems, 420 Cerafit, 220 SL-Plus and 159 Summit. All hips had a 28 or 32 mm femoral head, and polyethylene (PE)-on metal or ceramic-on-ceramic bearing surface. Radiological femoral type, stem position, femoral canal filling at three levels and the possible appearance of loosening and other bone remodelling changes were recorded in all hips.Background and aim
Methods
Biomaterial-related infections are an important complication in orthopaedic surgery [1], and A 18mm diameter rod of Ti–6Al–4V alloy ELI grade according to the standard ASTMF136-02 supplied by SURGIVAL was cut into 2 mm thick disk specimens, ground through successive grades of SiC paper to 1200 grade, degreased with a conventional detergent and rinsed in tap water followed by deionised water. The specimens were then chemically polished (CP). The disks were anodized only on one side by using a two electrode cell in a suitable electrolyte. TiO2 barrier layers, without fluoride (BL), were produced by anodizing in 1 M H2SO4 at 15 mA cm-2 to 90 V, reaching 200 nm of thickness. Fluoride barrier layers (FBL) were produced in an electrolyte containing 1 M NH4H2PO4 and 0.15 M NH4F, at constant voltage controlled at 20 V for 120 min at 20°C; the thickness of the layer is 140 nm. Laboratory biofilm-forming strains of INTRODUCTION
MATERIAL AND METHODS
