The long-term wear performance of highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) in cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) has rarely been reported. Here we report a prospective randomized comparative analysis of radiographic wear after a minimum follow-up of 10 years in cemented THAs with either HXLPE or conventional polyethylene (CPE), and assess its clinical relevance. From 1999 to 2001, we conducted 94 primary cemented THAs with a 22.225-mm head at our hospital as part of a prospective randomized trial. All surgeries were performed using a direct lateral approach with a trochanteric osteotomy (Dall's approach). The patients were divided into 4 groups. Twenty-six hips in group A were implanted with CPE sockets against zirconia heads and Charnley-type stems. HXLPE sockets (Aeonian, Kyocera Medical Corp) were implanted in all hips in the other 3 groups. Twenty-five hips in group B were implanted with zirconia heads and KC stems (Kyocera Medical Corp), 23 hips in group C with zirconia heads and distal cylindrical stems, and 20 hips in group D with stainless steel heads and C-stem (DePuy Inc). The sockets were highly cross-linked by gamma irradiation at a dose of 35 kGy, heat annealed at 110ºC, and sterilized with 25 kGy of gamma irradiation in nitrogen. For radiographic evaluation, anteroposterior radiograms were taken for each patient annually, and every two years postoperatively for wear analyses. Two-dimensional head penetration was measured on each postoperative radiogram using a computer-aided technique.Introduction
Patients and Methods
Composite screws of uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and poly-l-lactide (PLLA) were developed as completely absorbable bone fixation devices. So far the durability of HA-PLLA composite screws is unclear when used for the fixation of acetabular bone graft in total hip arthroplasty under full-weight conditions. We have used this type of screw for the fixation of acetabular bone graft in cemented or reverse-hybrid total hip arthroplasty since 2003. Hence, we conducted a follow-up study to assess the safety and efficacy of these screws when used for cemented socket fixation. During 2003–2009, HA-PLLA composite screws were used for fixation of acetabular bone graft in cemented or reverse-hybrid primary THA in 106 patients (114 cases). All the THAs were performed through direct lateral approaches, and postoperative gait exercise with full weight bearing usually started two days after surgery. One patient died of an unrelated disease and seven patients were lost to follow-up within 5 years. Finally, 98 patients (106 cases) were followed up for over 5 years and were reviewed retrospectively (follow-up rate, 93%). Radiographic loosening of the acetabular component was assessed according to the criteria of Hodgkinson et al., and the radiolucent line around the socket was evaluated in all zones, as described by DeLee and Charnley.Background
Methods
