Our aim in this pilot study was to evaluate the fixation of, the bone remodelling around, and the clinical outcome after surgery of a new, uncemented, fully hydroxyapatite-coated, collared and tapered femoral component, designed specifically for elderly patients with a fracture of the femoral neck.

We enrolled 50 patients, of at least 70 years of age, with an acute displaced fracture of the femoral neck in this prospective single-series study. They received a total hip replacement using the new component and were followed up regularly for two years.

Fixation was evaluated by radiostereometric analysis and bone remodelling by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Hip function and the health-related quality of life were assessed using the Harris hip score and the EuroQol-5D.

Up to six weeks post-operatively there was a mean subsidence of 0.2 mm (−2.1 to +0.5) and a retroversion of a mean of 1.2° (−8.2° to +1.5°). No component migrated after three months. The patients had a continuous loss of peri-prosthetic bone which amounted to a mean of 16% (−49% to +10%) at two years. The mean Harris hip score was 82 (51 to 100) after two years.

The two-year results from this pilot study indicate that this new, uncemented femoral component can be used for elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures of the femoral neck.

The cortical strains on the femoral neck and proximal femur were measured before and after implantation of a resurfacing femoral component in 13 femurs from human cadavers. These were loaded into a hip simulator for single-leg stance and stair-climbing. After resurfacing, the mean tensile strain increased by 15% (95% confidence interval (CI) 6 to 24, p = 0.003) on the lateral femoral neck and the mean compressive strain increased by 11% (95% CI 5 to 17, p = 0.002) on the medial femoral neck during stimulation of single-leg stance. On the proximal femur the deformation pattern remained similar to that of the unoperated femurs.

The small increase of strains in the neck area alone would probably not be sufficient to cause fracture of the neck However, with patient-related and surgical factors these strain changes may contribute to the risk of early periprosthetic fracture.

We report the use of an allograft prosthetic composite for reconstruction of the skeletal defect in complex revision total hip replacement for severe proximal femoral bone loss. Between 1986 and 1999, 72 patients (20 men, 52 women) with a mean age of 59.9 years (38 to 78) underwent reconstruction using this technique.

At a mean follow-up of 12 years (8 to 20) 57 patients were alive, 14 had died and one was lost to follow-up. Further revision was performed in 19 hips at a mean of 44.5 months (11 to 153) post-operatively. Causes of failure were aseptic loosening in four, allograft resorption in three, allograft nonunion in two, allograft fracture in four, fracture of the stem in one, and deep infection in five. The survivorship of the allograft-prosthesis composite at ten years was 69.0% (95% confidence interval 67.7 to 70.3) with 26 patients remaining at risk. Survivorship was statistically significantly affected by the severity of the pre-operative bone loss (Paprosky type IV; p = 0.019), the number of previous hip revisions exceeding two (p = 0.047), and the length of the allograft used (p = 0.005).

It is unclear whether there is a limit to the amount of distal bone required to support fixation of supracondylar periprosthetic femoral fractures. This retrospective multicentre study evaluated lateral locked plating of periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fractures and compared the results according to extension of the fracture distal with the proximal border of the femoral prosthetic component.

Between 1999 and 2008, 89 patients underwent lateral locked plating of a supracondylar periprosthetic femoral fracture, of whom 61 patients with a mean age of 72 years (42 to 96) comprising 53 women, were available after a minimum follow-up of six months or until fracture healing. Patients were grouped into those with fractures located proximally (28) and those with fractures that extended distal to the proximal border of the femoral component (33).

Delayed healing and nonunion occurred respectively in five (18%) and three (11%) of more proximal fractures, and in two (6%) and five (15%) of the fractures with distal extension (p = 0.23 for delayed healing; p = 0.72 for nonunion, Fisher’s exact test). Four construct failures (14%) occurred in more proximal fractures, and three (9%) in fractures with distal extension (p = 0.51). Of the two deep infections that occurred in each group, one resolved after surgical debridement and antibiotics, and one progressed to a nonunion.

Extreme distal periprosthetic supracondylar fractures of the femur are not a contra-indication to lateral locked plating. These fractures can be managed with internal fixation, with predictable results, similar to those seen in more proximal fractures.

We undertook a cemental unipolar proximal femoral endoprosthetic replacement in 131 patients with a mean age of 50 years (2 to 84). Primary malignant tumours were present in 54 patients and 67 had metastatic disease. In addition, eight patients had either lymphoma or myeloma and two had non-oncological disorders. The mean follow-up was 27 months (0 to 180). An acetabular revision was required later in 14 patients, 12 of whom had been under the age of 21 years at the time of insertion of their original prosthesis. The risk of acetabular revision in patients over 21 years of age was 8% at five years compared with 36% in those aged under 21 years. All the unipolar hips in this younger age group required revision within 11 years of the initial operation.

We conclude that unipolar replacement should not be used in younger patients and should be avoided in patients with a life expectancy of more than five years.

We report the outcome at ten to 15 years of two-stage revision for hip infection in 99 patients using the Prostalac articulated hip spacer system.

All the patients were contacted to determine their current functional and infection status using the Oxford-12, Short form-12, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index questionnaires. A total of 11 of the 99 patients had a further infection, of whom seven responded to repeat surgery with no further sequelae. The mean interval between the stages was five months (1 to 36). We were able to review 48 living patients, with a mean age of 72 years (46 to 86), 34 (71%) of whom provided health-related quality-of-life outcome scores.

The mean follow-up was 12 years (10 to 15). The long-term success rate was 89% and with additional surgery this rose to 96%. The mean global Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index score was 80.6 (sd 18.3). The mean Oxford-12 score was 74.0 (sd 22.3), and the mean Short form-12 score was 53.1 (sd 9.4) (mental) and 33.5 (sd 13.5) (physical). The mean satisfaction score was 90.5 (sd 15.3).

Two-stage revision for hip infection using a Prostalac interim spacer offers a predictable and lasting solution for patients with this difficult problem.

In 2004 we described the ten-year prospective results of 38 total hip replacements using the Furlong hydroxyapatite-ceramic-coated femoral component in 35 patients < 50 years old. We have now reviewed the surviving 35 arthroplasties in 33 patients at a mean of 16 years (10.3 to 19.9). The mean age of the surviving patients at the time of operation was 41.3 years (26.0 to 49.0). Of these, eight have undergone revision of their acetabular component for aseptic loosening. None of the femoral components has had revision for aseptic loosening giving a survival rate of 100% at 16 years (95% confidence interval 89% to 100%).

The Furlong hydroxyapatite-ceramic-coated femoral component gives excellent long-term survival in young and active patients.

We identified 1305 femoral impaction bone grafting revisions using the Exeter stem performed between 1989 and 2002 in 30 hospitals throughout Sweden. There were 1188 patients with a mean age of 71 years (29 to 94) followed up for between five and 18 years.

The participating departments reported 70 further revisions in total, of which 57 could also be identified on the Swedish National Arthroplasty Registry.

Kaplan-Meier survivorship for all causes of failure was 94.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 92 to 96) for women and 94.7% (95% CI, 92 to 96) for men at 15 years. Survivorship at 15 years for aseptic loosening was 99.1% (95% CI 98.4 to 99.5), for infection 98.6% (95% CI 97.6 to 99.2), for subsidence 99.0% (95% CI 98.2 to 99.4) and for fracture 98.7% (95% CI 97.9 to 99.2)

Statistically significant predictors of failure were the year in which revision was conducted (p < 0.001). The number of previous revisions was slightly above the level of signifance (p = 0.056). Age, gender, the length of the stem and previous septic loosening were not predictors of failure (p = 0.213, p = 0.399, p = 0.337, p = 0.687, respectively). The difference in survivorship between high- and low-volume departments was only 3% at ten years.

We conclude that impaction bone grafting with the Exeter stem has an excellent long-term survivorship following revision arthroplasty. The technique of impaction grafting appears to be reliable, can be learned rapidly and produces a predictably low incidence of aseptic loosening.

We describe 129 consecutive revision total hip replacements using a Charnley-Kerboull femoral component of standard length with impaction allografting. The mean follow-up was 8.2 years (2 to 16). Additionally, extramedullary reinforcement was performed using struts of cortical allograft in 49 hips and cerclage wires in 30.

There was one intra-operative fracture of the femur but none later. Two femoral components subsided by 5 mm and 8 mm respectively, and were considered to be radiological failures. No further revision of a femoral component was required. The rate of survival of the femoral component at nine years, using radiological failure as the endpoint, was 98%. Our study showed that impaction grafting in association with a Charnley-Kerboull femoral component has a low rate of subsidence. Reconstruction of deficiencies of distal bone with struts of cortical allograft appeared to be an efficient way of preventing postoperative femoral fracture for up to 16 years.

We reviewed the results at nine to 13 years of 125 total hip replacements in 113 patients using the monoblock uncemented Morscher press-fit acetabular component. The mean age at the time of operation was 56.9 years (36 to 74). The mean clinical follow-up was 11 years (9.7 to 13.5) and the mean radiological follow-up was 9.4 years (7.7 to 13.1). Three hips were revised, one immediately for instability, one for excessive wear and one for deep infection.

No revisions were required for aseptic loosening. A total of eight hips (7.0%) had osteolytic lesions greater than 1 cm, in four around the acetabular component (3.5%). One required bone grafting behind a well-fixed implant. The mean wear rate was 0.11 mm/year (0.06 to 0.78) and was significantly higher in components with a steeper abduction angle.

Kaplan-Meier survival curves at 13 years showed survival of 96.8% (95% confidence interval 90.2 to 99.0) for revision for any cause and of 95.7% (95% confidence interval 88.6 to 98.4) for any acetabular re-operation.

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.

Between 1986 and 1991 we implanted 331 consecutive Furlong hydroxyapatite-coated femoral components of a total hip replacement in 291 patients. A cemented acetabular prosthesis was used in 217 hips and a hydroxyapatite-coated component in 114. We describe the long-term clinical and radiological survival of the femoral component at a mean follow-up of 17.5 years (15 to 21). Only two patients (0.68%) were lost to follow-up. With revision of the femoral component for any reason as the endpoint, the survival at a mean of 17 years was 97.4% (95% confidence interval 94.1 to 99.5), and with revision for aseptic loosening as the endpoint it was 100%. The survival at a maximum of 21 years with revision of the femoral component for any reason as the endpoint was 97.4% (95% confidence interval 81.0 or 99.5). These results compare favourably with the best long-term results of cemented or uncemented femoral components used in total hip replacement.

Pathological fractures due to metastasis with destruction of the acetabulum and central dislocation of the hip present a difficult surgical challenge. We describe a series using a single technique in which a stable and long-lasting reconstruction was obtained using standard primary hip replacement implants augmented by strong, fully-threaded steel rods with cement and steel mesh, where required.

Between 1997 and 2006, 19 patients with a mean age of 66 years (48 to 83) were treated using a modified Harrington technique. Acetabular destruction was graded as Harrington class II in six cases and class III in 13.

Reconstruction was achieved using three 6.5 mm rods inserted through a separate incision in the iliac crest followed by augmentation with cement and a conventional cemented Charnley or Exeter primary hip replacement. There were no peri-operative deaths. At the final follow-up (mean 25 months (5 to 110)) one rod had fractured and one construct required revision. Of the 18 patients who did not require revision, 13 had died. The mean time to death was 16 months (5 to 55). The mean follow-up of the five survivors was 31 months (18 to 47). There were no cases of dislocation, deep infection or injury to a nerve, the blood vessels or the bladder.

The first 325 Exeter Universal stems (309 patients) implanted at the originating centre were inserted between March 1988 and February 1990 by a group of surgeons with differing experience. In this report we describe the clinical and radiological results at a mean of 15.7 years (14.7 to 17.3) after operation with no loss to follow-up. There were 97 patients (108 hips) with replacements still in situ and 31 (31 hips) who had undergone a further procedure. With an endpoint of revision for aseptic loosening, the survivorship at 17 years was 100% and 90.4% for the femoral and acetabular component, respectively. The mean Merle D’Aubigné and Postel scores at review were 5.4 (sd 0.97) for pain and 4.5 (sd 1.72) for function. The mean Oxford score was 38.4 (sd 9.8) (0 to 48 worst-to-best scale) and the mean combined Harris pain and function score was 73.2 (sd 16.9). Radiological review showed excellent preservation of bone stock in the proximal femur and no failures of the femoral component.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published the guidelines on the selection of prostheses for primary hip replacement in 2000. They supported the use of cemented hip prostheses to the exclusion of uncemented and hybrid implants. The information from the Trent (and Wales) Regional Arthroplasty Study has been examined to identify retrospectively the types of hip prostheses used between 1990 and 2005, and to assess the impact that the guidelines have had on orthopaedic practice.

The results show that the publication of the NICE guidelines has had little impact on clinical practice, with the use of uncemented prostheses increasing from 6.7% (137) in 2001 to 19.2% (632) in 2005. The use of hybrid prostheses has more than doubled from 8.8% (181) to 22% (722) of all hips implanted in the same period. The recommendations made by NICE are not being followed, which calls into question their value.

There have been no large comparative studies of the blood levels of metal ions after implantation of commercially available hip resurfacing devices which have taken into account the effects of femoral size and inclination and anteversion of the acetabular component. We present the results in 90 patients with unilateral articular surface replacement (ASR) hip resurfacings (mean time to blood sampling 26 months) and 70 patients with unilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) implants (mean time 47 months).

The whole blood and serum chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) concentrations were inversely related to the size of the femoral component in both groups (p < 0.05). Cr and Co were more strongly influenced by the position of the acetabular component in the case of the ASR, with an increase in metal ions observed at inclinations > 45° and anteversion angles of < 10° and > 20°. These levels were only increased in the BHR group when the acetabular component was implanted with an inclination > 55°.

A significant relationship was identified between the anteversion of the BHR acetabular component and the levels of Cr and Co (p < 0.05 for Co), with an increase observed at anteversion angles < 10° and > 20°. The median whole blood and serum Cr concentrations of the male ASR patients were significantly lower than those of the BHR men (p < 0.001). This indicates that reduced diametral clearance may equate to a reduction in metal ion concentrations in larger joints with satisfactory orientation of the acetabular component.

We describe three cases of fracture of the titanium JRI-Furlong hydroxyapatite-ceramic (HAC)-coated femoral component. We have examined previous case reports of failure of this stem and conclude that fracture may occur in two places, namely at the neck-shoulder junction and at the conical-distal cylindrical junction. These breakages are the result of fatigue in a metallurgically-proven normal femoral component. All the cases of failure of the femoral component have occurred in patients with a body mass index of more than 25 in whom a small component, either size 9 or 10, had been used.

In patients with a body mass index above normal size 9 components should be avoided and the femoral canal should be reamed sufficiently to accept a large femoral component to ensure that there is adequate metaphyseal fixation.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene sterilised in the absence of air and highly cross-linked polyethylene have been used to avoid osteolysis and loosening in total hip replacement. Our prospective randomised study has assessed the results using two different polyethylenes associated with the same prosthetic design. We assessed 45 Allofit acetabular components with a Sulene-polyethylene liner of conventional polyethylene gamma sterilised with nitrogen and 45 Allofit acetabular components with a Durasul-polyethylene liner sterilised in ethylene oxide, both matched with an Alloclassic stem with a 28 mm modular femoral head. The prostheses were implanted between May 1999 and December 2001. The mean follow-up was for 66.3 months (60 to 92). The linear penetration of the femoral head was estimated at 6 weeks, at 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter from standardised digitised radiographs using image-analysis software.

There was no loosening of any prosthetic component. There were no radiolucent lines or osteolysis. The mean rate of penetration calculated from regression analysis during the first five years was 38 μm/year (sd 2) for the Sulene group and 6 μm/year (sd 1) for the Durasul group (p = 0.00002). The rate of penetration of the Durasul group was 15.7% of that of the Sulene group.