Infection of a total hip replacement (THR) requires component removal and thorough local debridement. Usually, long-term antibiotic treatment in conjunction with a two-stage revision is required. This may take several months. One-stage revision using antibiotic-loaded cement has not gained widespread use, although the clinical and economic advantages are obvious. Allograft bone may be impregnated with high levels of antibiotics, and in revision of infected THR, act as a carrier providing a sustained high local concentration.

We performed 37 one-stage revision of infected THRs, without the use of cement. There were three hips which required further revision because of recurrent infection, the remaining 34 hips (92%) stayed free from infection and stable at a mean follow-up of 4.4 years (2 to 8). No adverse effects were identified. Incorporation of bone graft was comparable with unimpregnated grafts.

Antibiotic-impregnated allograft bone may enable reconstruction of bone stock, insertion of an uncemented implant and control of infection in a single operation in revision THR for infection.

Using a modern cementing technique, we implanted 22 stereolithographic polymeric replicas of the Charnley-Kerboul stem in 11 pairs of human cadaver femora. On one side, the replicas were cemented line-to-line with the largest broach. On the other, one-size undersized replicas were used (radial difference, 0.89 mm . sd. 0.13). CT analysis showed that the line-to-line stems without distal centralisers were at least as well aligned and centered as undersized stems with a centraliser, but were surrounded by less cement and presented more areas of thin (< 2 mm) or deficient (< 1 mm) cement. These areas were located predominantly at the corners and in the middle and distal thirds of the stem. Nevertheless, in line-to-line stems, penetration of cement into cancellous bone resulted in a mean thickness of cement of 3.1 mm (. sd. 0.6) and only 6.2% of deficient and 26.4% of thin cement. In over 90% of these areas, the cement was directly supported by cortical bone or cortical bone with less than 1 mm of cancellous bone interposed. When Charnley-Kerboul stems are cemented line-to-line, good clinical results are observed because cement-deficient areas are limited and are frequently supported by cortical bone

Resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip is being used increasingly as an alternative to total hip replacement, especially for young active patients. There is concern about necrosis of the femoral head after resurfacing which can result in fracture and loosening. Most systems use a cemented femoral component, with the potential for thermal necrosis of the cancellous bone of the reamed femoral head. We used thermal probes to record temperatures close to the cement-bone interface during resurfacing arthroplasty. The maximum temperature recorded at the cement-bone interface in four cases was approximately 68°C which was higher than that reported to kill osteocytes. A modified surgical technique using insertion of a suction cannula into the lesser trochanter, generous pulsed lavage and early reduction of the joint significantly reduced the maximum recorded cancellous bone temperature to approximately 36°C in five cases (p = 0.014). We recommend the modified technique since it significantly reduces temperatures at the cement-bone interface

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of initial fixation and changes in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) between patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a traditional fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stem (T-HA group) and those with a newly introduced fully HA-coated stem (N-HA group).

The ideal acetabular component is characterised by reliable, long-term fixation with physiological loading of bone and a low rate of wear. Trabecular metal is a porous construct of tantalum which promotes bony ingrowth, has a modulus of elasticity similar to that of cancellous bone, and should be an excellent material for fixation. Between 2004 and 2006, 55 patients were randomised to receive either a cemented polyethylene or a monobloc trabecular metal acetabular component with a polyethylene articular surface. We measured the peri-prosthetic bone density around the acetabular components for up to two years using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. We found evidence that the cemented acetabular component loaded the acetabular bone centromedially whereas the trabecular metal monobloc loaded the lateral rim and behaved like a hemispherical rigid metal component with regard to loading of the acetabular bone. We suspect that this was due to the peripheral titanium rim used for the mechanism of insertion

Aims

To investigate the extent of bone development around the scaffold of custom triflange acetabular components (CTACs) over time.

We have evaluated the in vivo migration patterns of 164 primary consecutive Charnley-Kerboull total hip replacements which were undertaken in 155 patients. The femoral preparation included removal of diaphyseal cancellous bone to obtain primary rotational stability of the stem before line-to-line cementing. We used the Ein Bild Roentgen Analyse femoral component method to assess the subsidence of the femoral component. At a mean of 17.3 years (15.1 to 18.3) 73 patients were still alive and had not been revised, eight had been revised, 66 had died and eight had been lost to follow-up. The mean subsidence of the entire series was 0.63 mm (0.0 to 1.94). When using a 1.5 mm threshold, only four stems were considered to have subsided. Our study showed that, in most cases, a highly polished double-tapered stem cemented line-to-line does not subside at least up to 18 years after implantation

Aims

Highly polished stems with force-closed design have shown satisfactory clinical results despite being related to relatively high early migration. It has been suggested that the minimal thickness of cement mantles surrounding the femoral stem should be 2 mm to 4 mm to avoid aseptic loosening. The line-to-line cementing technique of the femoral stem, designed to achieve stem press-fit, challenges this opinion. We compared the migration of a highly polished stem with force-closed design by standard and line-to-line cementing to investigate whether differences in early migration of the stems occur in a clinical study.

In developmental dysplasia of the hip, a deficient acetabulum may be augmented by placing local autogenous iliac osseous graft, or the ilium itself, over the head of the femur with the expectation that the added bone will function as a bearing surface. We analysed this bone obtained en bloc during subsequent surgery which was performed for degenerative osteoarthritis in three patients at 6, 25 and 30 years after the initial augmentation procedure. In each patient, the augmentation comprised of red cancellous bone covered on its articulating surface by a distinct layer of white tissue. Microscopy of this tissue showed parallel rows of spindle-shaped cells lying between linearly arranged collagen bundles typical of joint capsule. Biochemical analysis showed type I collagen, the principal collagen of joint capsule and bone, with no significant quantity of type II collagen, the principal collagen of cartilage. While the added bone produced by acetabular augmentation was durable, histological and biochemical analyses suggested that it had not undergone cartilage metaplasia. The augmented acetabulum articulates with the head of the femur by means of an interposed hip joint capsule

Between November 1997 and December 2000 we performed 27 total hip replacements in 22 patients with high congenital dislocation of the hip using porous tantalum monoblock acetabular components implanted in the true acetabular bed. Clinical and radiological evaluation was performed at regular intervals for a mean of 10.2 years (8.5 to 12). The mean Harris Hip Score improved from 48.3 (15 to 65) pre-operatively to 89.5 (56 to 100) at the final follow-up. The mean Oxford Hip Score was 49.5 (35 to 59) pre-operatively and decreased to 21.2 (12 to 48) at one year and 15.2 (10 to 28) at final follow-up. Migration of the acetabular component was assessed with the EBRA software system. There was a mean migration of 0.68 mm (0.49 to 0.8) in the first year and a mean 0.89 mm (0.6 to 0.98) in the second year, after excluding one initial excessive migration. No revision was necessary for any reason, no acetabular component became loose, and no radiolucent lines were observed at the final follow-up. The porous tantalum monoblock acetabular component is an implant offering adequate initial stability in conjunction with a modulus of elasticity and porosity close to that of cancellous bone. It favours bone ingrowth, leading to good mid-term results

Aims

Uncemented metal acetabular components show good osseointegration, but material stiffness causes stress shielding and retroacetabular bone loss. Cemented monoblock polyethylene components load more physiologically; however, the cement bone interface can suffer fibrous encapsulation and loosening. It was hypothesized that an uncemented titanium-sintered monoblock polyethylene component may offer the optimum combination of osseointegration and anatomical loading.

Aims

To achieve the functional benefits of the direct anterior (DA) approach and the fixation benefits of cemented replacement, this study combined the two techniques posing the following questions: does the limited access of the DA approach adversely affect the cement technique?; and does such a cementing technique reduce the incidence of cementless complications?

Aims

Aseptic loosening is a leading cause of uncemented arthroplasty failure, often accompanied by fibrotic tissue at the bone-implant interface. A biological target, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), was investigated as a crucial connection between the innate immune system’s response to injury, fibrotic tissue development, and proper bone healing. Prevalence of NETs in peri-implant fibrotic tissue from aseptic loosening patients was assessed. A murine model of osseointegration failure was used to test the hypothesis that inhibition (through Pad4^-/- mice that display defects in peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), an essential protein required for NETs) or resolution (via DNase 1 treatment, an enzyme that degrades the cytotoxic DNA matrix) of NETs can prevent osseointegration failure and formation of peri-implant fibrotic tissue.

We have studied aseptic loosening of the femoral component in 76 patients with primary total hip replacement using the Capital prosthesis. The mean follow-up was 26 months (10 to 37). Twelve femoral components (16%) were definitely and eight (10%) were possibly loose. They were characterised by a thin cement mantle (p < 0.001) and excessive residual cancellous bone in the proximomedial region (p < 0.01). We recommend that the cement mantle around the prosthesis should be 2 to 3 mm and that further long-term studies are needed to evaluate the wear properties of titanium-nitride-coated titanium femoral heads

Aims

Surgical treatment of hip fracture is challenging; the bone is porotic and fixation failure can be catastrophic. Novel implants are available which may yield superior clinical outcomes. This study compared the clinical effectiveness of the novel X-Bolt Hip System (XHS) with the sliding hip screw (SHS) for the treatment of fragility hip fractures.

Our aim was to assess the local extent of osteocyte death in the proximal femur of 16 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We performed histological examination of the femoral heads and cancellous bone biopsies from four regions of the proximal femur in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. A control group consisted of 19 patients with osteoarthritis. All histological specimens were examined in a blinded fashion. Extensive osteonecrosis was shown in the proximal femur up to 4 cm below the lesser trochanter in the group with osteonecrosis. There was an overall statistically significant difference in the extent of osteocyte death distal to the femoral head between the two groups (p < 0.001). We discuss the implications of these findings as possible contributing factors in regard to the early failure of total hip arthroplasty reported in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Aims

The aim of this study was to report the medium-term outcomes of impaction bone allograft and fibular grafting for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and to define the optimal indications.

We implanted 51 Metal-Cancellous Cementless Lübeck (MCCL) prostheses into 45 patients with dysplastic hips and followed 49 hips (96.1%) for five to nine years. One had needed revision for stem fracture and one for infection; the clinical outcome of the other 47 hips was assessed using the Merle d’Aubigné and Postel hip score. All hips were either excellent (63%) or good (37%). Three patients (6%) had mild thigh pain at six months, but this had settled within two years. Serial radiographs showed stable fixation with bone ingrowth in all hips, with increased density of the cancellous bone in contact with the implant and some trabecular ingrowth. There was early varus shift of the stem in one hip, but this stabilised in three months. Osteolysis of the femoral cortex was seen in one hip at seven years after surgery, and mild bone resorption due to stress shielding in 31 (63%). Acetabular bone grafting with autogenous bone from the femoral head gave successful support to the socket in 13 hips. The MCCL prosthesis gave satisfactory mid-term results in patients with osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia

Aims

Various surgical techniques have been described for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with Crowe type III dislocated hips, who have a large acetabular bone defect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical results of patients in whom anatomical reconstruction of the acetabulum was performed using a cemented acetabular component and autologous bone graft from the femoral neck.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biological fixation of a 3D printed porous implant, with and without different hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings, in a canine model.