The influence of uncemented femoral stem length and design on its primary stability: a finite element analysis

From healthy to osteoporotic: Exploring how bone quality alters implant performance in Pauwels type III fracture

Osteoporosis compromises bone strength, making bone more susceptible to fractures. Decreased bone density heightens susceptibility to femoral neck fractures. The study investigated the impact of bone density on implant performance across three categories of bone quality: healthy, osteopenic, and osteoporotic. The effectiveness of three commonly used implant types (Femoral Neck System, Dynamic Condylar Screw, and Dynamic Hip Screw, where later two equipped with an anti-rotational screw) was evaluated through finite element analysis for treating Pauwels type III fracture. The bone geometry and material properties were based on a subject-specific CT data. The density and Young's modulus of bone elements were adjusted to simulate osteopenic and osteoporotic bone. FE models were developed and the peak loading values for normal walking and stair climbing conditions were considered. Stability and performance of the implant were assessed using bone strain, implant stress, deformation and rotation of the femoral head, micromotion at the interfaces, strain shielding, and risk of implant cut-out. Except for DCS with AR-screw and FNS implants under stair climbing conditions in weaker bone qualities, the implant stress remained within the yield limit of Ti-alloy. The comprehensive assessment identified DHS2 as the preferred implant option for treating such fractures, even in poor bone quality. The risk of cut-out risk was up to 3.9% higher in DCS2 and 6.3% higher in FNS implanted models than in DHS2. The effect of change in bone quality was comparatively less in DHS2 implants than the other two types.

Fatigue test evaluation of a customised humeral component for an instrumented total elbow prosthesis and strain validation study

The survival rate of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is negatively impacted by the lack of available data on elbow biomechanics. This study developed a modified humeral component for TEA that is purposed to be instrumented to generate real-time 6 degrees of freedom (d.o.f) force and moment data during activities of daily living (ADL). The objectives are twofold: (1) to assess the safety of the modified humeral component under peak anticipated loads in fatigue, and (2) verify the strains measured under physiological loads with strains modelled using finite element analysis (FEA). Four modified titanium alloy humeral components were welded, and fatigue tested at 5 Hz for 5 million cycles under a compressive load of 700 N corresponding to moderate ADL. The strains were measured using triaxial 350 Ω rectangular rosette (45°) strain gauges bonded to three specific locations on the humeral component confirmed through an FE study. The four welded humeral components successfully withstood fatigue conditions and did not deform. The measured and modelled principal strains were confirmed to be highest at the external wall of the lateral cavity, with a percentage difference of <10 %.

Mechanical Effects of Offset and Length of the Cementless Stem for Initial Fixation to the Femur

Backgroud

Implants with different neck offsets for hip replacement surgery are now available from various implant manufacturers and have become a widely used option for achieving postoperative hip stability. This study aimed to compare the impact of neck offset on initial stem fixation and the mechanical effects of different stem lengths when using cementless stems.

Methods

We performed a finite element analysis using Mechanical Finder ver. 12.0. CAD models of the Profemur Preserve and Profemur TL cementless stems. Each stem was appropriately sized, and the von Mises stress was calculated. We defined micromotion as the relative displacement between the stem node and the surface of bone contact. The maximum micromotion values of these finite element models were compared under standing conditions.

Results

The stress per zone for both stems (Preserve and TL) was the highest in zone 5, followed by zones 3 and 4, which were almost in line with each other. The high offset (HIGH) stress was higher than the standard offset (STD) stress in each stem and zone. The micromotion of each stem was higher at each load in the following order: Preserve HIGH, Preserve STD, TL HIGH, and TL STD, with HIGH being higher than STD at each stem.

Conclusions

The choice of higher offset or shorter length stems induced higher micromotion at the interface to the bone in the early postoperative period. Therefore, surgeons should be more careful to get appropriate initial fixation using shorter stems with higher offset necks due to the relatively high incidence of loosening or fractures.

Personalized Stem Length Optimization in Hip Replacement: A Microscopic Perspective on Bone-Implant Interaction

Total hip replacement (THR) surgery involves the removal of necrotic tissue and the replacement of the natural joint with an artificial hip joint. The demand for THR is increasing due to population aging and prolonged life expectancies. However, the uniform length and shape of artificial hip joints can cause stress shielding, leading to implant loosening and femoral fractures. These issues arise because these designs fail to account for the unique anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of individual patients. Therefore, this study proposes and validates a method to optimize stem length by considering bone microstructure and daily load. The results demonstrated that the optimal stem length varies with loading conditions and significantly reduces stress in the cortical bone while maintaining an appropriate strain energy in the cancellous bone, thereby preventing bone loss. These findings underscore the importance of patient-specific stem design for improving implant stability and clinical outcomes.

Biomechanical analysis of various internal fracture fixation devices used for treating femoral neck fractures: A comparative finite element analysis

INTRODUCTION

Several internal fixation devices are available for treating Pauwels type I, II and III femoral neck fractures. The present study compared various fixation implants for all Pauwels fracture types using a CT-based subject-specific finite element model of the femur and determined the most effective implant for each fracture type.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The analysis included four different configurations of cannulated screw models, Femoral Neck System, Dynamic Hip Screw and Dynamic Condylar Screw (with and without anti-rotational screw). Ti-alloy was considered as the implant material. Heterogeneous bone material property was assigned based on CT grey value. Frictional contact was assumed in the contact interfaces. Peak loading corresponding to normal walking and stair-climbing were considered. Equivalent strain in bone, equivalent stress in the implants, femoral head deformation and rotation, micromotion in the contact interfaces, and strain-shielding in bone were evaluated for each implanted model.

RESULTS

Stresses generated in the implants were within the yield limit of the implant material. In Pauwels I and II, the micromotion predicted at the contact regions in all the implanted models was within 100 µm, which is suitable for bone integration. However, in Pauwels III fracture, most of the implanted models other than DHS with AR-screw model exhibited micromotion of more than 150 µm in the contact regions, which is expected to inhibit bone growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The DHS with AR-screw implanted model was identified as the most effective in treating Pauwels I and III fractures. However, for Pauwels type II, DCS with an AR-screw implant was deemed superior to the other configurations.

Acute Periprosthetic Hip Fractures With Short, Uncemented Femoral Stems

BACKGROUND

Uncemented femoral stems in hip arthroplasty have shown excellent long-term results, and several systematic studies indicate satisfactory performance of short stems. However, biomechanical and finite element analysis studies have suggested that shorter stems allow greater micromotion, producing greater strain at the implant-bone interface, which potentially increases the risk for periprosthetic fracture (PPF). We sought to assess this risk within our unit.

METHODS

Our institution's arthroplasty database was searched for all primary total hip arthroplasties using short femoral stems performed between July 14, 2009 and August 29, 2022. The overall PPF rate and the PPF rate for individual femoral stems were established. Preoperative X-rays for each case were analyzed to characterize individual proximal femoral geometry. A data analysis was performed to identify risk factors for PPF.

RESULTS

For the time period assessed, 3,192 short femoral stems were implanted. This included 1,561 of stem A and 1,631 of stem B. Women constituted 55.37% of the cohort. The average patient age was 66 years (range, 22 to 95). The PPF rate was 0.6%, with 19 PPFs identified at a follow-up of 3 months. There was a significantly higher fracture rate in stem A (0.96%) compared to stem B (0.25%) (P ≤ .01). Proximal femoral geometry, age, and sex were not determined to be risk factors for PPF in our cohort. Individual surgeons and surgical approaches appeared to confer no increased risk. There was no significant difference in average stem length, but multivariate analysis identified stem type and stem length as an independent risk factor for PPF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified individual stem and stem length as independent risk factors for PPF within our cohort. PPF is a multifactorial issue, and consensus on emerging risk factors such as implant design will hopefully inform decisions that can provide further risk reduction for individual patients.

Influence of offset on osseointegration in cementless total hip arthroplasty: A finite element study

Early aseptic loosening is caused by deficient osteointegration of the femoral stem due to increased micromotions and represents a common mode of failure in uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study hypothesized that a higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size and obesity increase femoral micromotion, potentially resulting in early aseptic loosening. A finite element analysis was conducted based on computed tomography segmented model of four patients who received a THA with a triple-tapered straight stem (Size 1, 3, 6). The influence of femoral stem offset (short neck, standard, lateral), head length (S to XXL), femoral anteversion and obesity during daily activities of fast walking and stair climbing was analyzed. The micromotions for the femoral stem zones were compared to a threshold representing a value above which only partial osseointegration is expected. The minimum femoral offset configuration compared to the maximum offset configuration (short neck stem, S head vs. lateral stem, XXL head) leads to a relative mean micromotion increase of 24% for the upper stem zone. Increasing the body weight (body mass index 30-35 kg/m2) increases the micromotion by 20% for all stem zones. The obese population recorded threshold-exceeding micromotions for stem sizes 1 and 3 for all offset configurations during stair climbing. Higher femoral offset, a smaller stem size, and higher loading due to obesity lead to an increase in micromotion between the prosthesis and proximal femur and represent a risk configuration for impaired osseointegration of a triple-tapered straight stem, especially when these three factors are present simultaneously.

3-D finite element model of the impaction of a press-fitted femoral stem under various biomechanical environments

BACKGROUND

Uncemented femoral stem insertion into the bone is achieved by applying successive impacts on an inserter tool called "ancillary". Impact analysis has shown to be a promising technique to monitor the implant insertion and to improve its primary stability.

METHOD

This study aims to provide a better understanding of the dynamic phenomena occurring between the hammer, the ancillary, the implant and the bone during femoral stem insertion, to validate the use of impact analyses for implant insertion monitoring. A dynamic 3-D finite element model of the femoral stem insertion via an impaction protocol is proposed. The influence of the trabecular bone Young's modulus (Et), the interference fit (IF), the friction coefficient at the bone-implant interface (μ) and the impact velocity (v0) on the implant insertion and on the impact force signal is evaluated.

RESULTS

For all configurations, a decrease of the time difference between the two first peaks of the impact force signal is observed throughout the femoral stem insertion, up to a threshold value of 0.23 ms. The number of impacts required to reach this value depends on Et, v0 and IF and varies between 3 and 8 for the set of parameters considered herein. The bone-implant contact ratio reached after ten impacts varies between 60% and 98%, increases as a function of v0 and decreases as a function of IF, μ and Et.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the potential of an impact analyses-based method to monitor implant insertion and to retrieve bone-implant contact properties.

Small design modifications can improve the primary stability of a fully coated tapered wedge hip stem

Increasing the stem size during surgery is associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative periprosthetic fractures in cementless total hip arthroplasty with fully coated tapered wedge stems, especially in femurs of Dorr type A. If in contrast a stem is implanted and sufficient primary stability is not achieved, such preventing successful osseointegration due to increased micromotions, it may also fail, especially if the stem is undersized. Stem loosening or periprosthetic fractures due to stem subsidence can be the consequence. The adaptation of an established stem design to femurs of Dorr type A by design modifications, which increase the stem width proximally combined with a smaller stem tip and an overall shorter stem, might reduce the risk of distal locking of a proximally inadequately fixed stem and provide increased stability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such a modified stem design provides improved primary stability without increasing the periprosthetic fracture risk compared to the established stem design. The established (Corail, DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, US) and modified stem designs (Emphasys, DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, US) were implanted in cadaveric femur pairs (n = 6 pairs) using the respective instruments. Broaching and implantation forces were recorded and the contact areas between the prepared cavity and the stem determined. Implanted stems were subjected to two different cyclic loading conditions according to ISO 7206-4 using a material testing machine (1 Hz, 600 cycles @ 80 to 800 N, 600 cycles @ 80 to 1600 N). Translational and rotational relative motions between stem and femur were recorded using digital image correlation. Broaching and implantation forces for the modified stem were up to 40% higher (p = 0.024), achieving a 23% larger contact area between stem and bone (R2 = 0.694, p = 0.039) resulting in a four times lower subsidence during loading (p = 0.028). The slight design modifications showed the desired effect in this in-vitro study resulting in a higher primary stability suggesting a reduced risk of loosening. The higher forces required during the preparation of the cavity with the new broaches and during implantation of the stem could bare an increased risk for intraoperative periprosthetic fractures, which did not occur in this study.

Influence of the biomechanical environment on the femoral stem insertion and vibrational behavior: a 3-D finite element study

The long-term success of cementless surgery strongly depends on the implant primary stability. The femoral stem initial fixation relies on multiple geometrical and material factors, but their influence on the biomechanical phenomena occurring during the implant insertion is still poorly understood, as they are difficult to quantify in vivo. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between the resonance frequencies of the bone-implant-ancillary system and the stability of the femoral stem under various biomechanical environments. The interference fit IF, the trabecular bone Young's modulus [Formula: see text] and the bone-implant contact friction coefficient [Formula: see text] are varied to investigate their influence on the implant insertion phenomena and on the system vibration behavior. The results exhibit for all the configurations, a nonlinear increase in the bone-implant contact throughout femoral stem insertion, until the proximal contact is reached. While the pull-out force increases with [Formula: see text], IF and [Formula: see text], the bone-implant contact ratio decreases, which shows that a compromise on the set of parameters could be found in order to achieve the largest bone-implant contact while maintaining sufficient pull-out force. The modal analysis on the range [2-7] kHz shows that the resonance frequencies of the bone-implant-ancillary system increase with the bone-implant contact ratio and the trabecular bone Young's modulus, with a sensitivity that varies over the modes. Both the pull-out forces and the vibration behavior are consistent with previous experimental studies. This study demonstrates the potential of using vibration methods to guide the surgeons for optimizing implant stability in various patients and surgical configurations.

Stress distributions of the short stem and the tapered wedge stem at different alignments: a finite element analysis study

BACKGROUND

The mechanical effects of stem length reduction and stem alignment on the surrounding femur remain unknown. This study directly compared the stress distribution on the surrounding femur of existing tapered wedge stems and short stems and examined the properties of stress distribution at different stem alignments in three dimensions.

METHODS

Finite element analysis was conducted for standing and walking. The cementless stem was appropriately sized to ensure adequate contact with the medial cortical bone line that contours the medullary cavity. The stem neck axis was aligned with the femoral neck axis in the mid-position and placed in 2° of the varus and valgus, 3° of flexion and extension, and 10° and 40° of anteversion.

RESULTS

Regardless of stem length, the trend of stress distribution was similar. The short stem generated less stress around the stem than the tapered wedge stem. In the coronal plane, the effect of varus and valgus deflection was small. In the sagittal plane, the stress generated around the stem was higher in the extended position than in the flexed position. In the horizontal plane, the stress generated around the stem was higher when the stem anteversion was smaller.

CONCLUSIONS

Depending on the design, short stems can reduce the stress on the surrounding bone, compared to a longer tapered wedge with similar stress distribution. Additionally, a short stem can reduce the effect of the varus position. Stems should be placed to achieve stable initial fixation while noting that stresses increase with extension and reduced anteversion.

A Radiographic Analysis of Proximal Humeral Anatomy in Patients with Primary Glenohumeral Arthritis and Implications for Press-Fit Stem Length

While short stems in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) preserve bone stock and facilitate revision surgery, they have been associated with higher rates of malalignment and loosening in some cases compared to standard length stems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the intramedullary canal in progressive increments distal to the greater tuberosity to provide anatomic information about the optimal length of press-fit short stems for alignment and stability in TSA. We hypothesized that the humeral canal diameter will remain variable for the first 50 to 75 mm distal to the greater tuberosity and will become consistent thereafter. A retrospective review of 99 consecutive patients undergoing TSA with CT scans was performed. Intramedullary anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) width as well as diameter were analyzed on two-dimensional computed tomography following multiplanar reconstruction. Measurements were taken at consistent distances distal to the greater tuberosity (GT). The transition point was measured at the proximal level of the humerus where endosteal borders of the medial and lateral cortices became parallel. The mean transition point was 73 mm from the GT (range: 53 to 109 mm). ML and AP widths became consistent 80 mm distal to the GT. IM diameter became consistent after 90 mm distal to the GT and a stem length of 90 mm extended past the transition point in 91.9% of cases. In TSA, a humeral stem length of 90 mm is required to predictably reach points at which the humeral canal becomes cylindrical and consistent in diameter. This information may aid data-driven decisions on humeral stem length during press-fit fixation, assuring consistency of alignment and implant stability, while maintaining ease of revision associated with a short stem implant. Level of evidence: III

Medium-term outcomes of short stems in total hip arthroplasty

Background

Prosthetic surgery has shown good short-term results with the use of short stems, results comparable with the experience of conventional stems. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the characteristics and clinical course of patients operated on with the short stem GTS in the medium term.

Methods

Between November 2010 and September 2014, 152 primary hip prostheses were operated on in 142 patients with a mean follow-up of 95.49 months (range 75–120). We analyzed the intraoperative and postoperative complications and the reviews performed during the follow-up.

Results

One intraoperative complications occurred; case in which a femoral calcar fracture occurred and a screw was required during the operation. The clinical evaluation at the end of the follow-up, according to the Merle D’Aubigne Scale, showed the mean value was 17.3684 (SD 0,79472), with a survival at the end of the follow-up of 99.3% of the placed GTS stems.

Conclusions

GTS short stems have shown good results after more than 6 years of follow-up, with comparable results to conventional uncemented stems. Short-stem hip arthroplasty is an advanced way to preserve bone stock while protecting soft tissue

Clinical and radiographic outcomes after total hip arthroplasty with the NANOS neck preserving hip stem: a 10 to 16-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Short-stem Hip Arthroplasty (SHA) are increasingly implanted in recent years thanks to their potential advantage in preserving metaphyseal bone-stock. Among them, the NANOS® short-stem implant demonstrated satisfactory results to short and mid-term. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of the Nanos® short stem at a minimum follow-up of 10 years.

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients aged 53 ± 20 years were enlisted in the study, for a total of 72 hips. Primary outcomes were survivorship of the implant and clinical outcome measured using the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores (HOOS) and the Short Form Survey (SF12) questionnaire. The secondary outcome was a radiological evaluation calculating the inclination and the anteversion angle of the acetabular cup for each implant and investigating osteolysis, heterotopic ossifications and stem position.

RESULTS

We observed a 95.5% stem survivorship. The complication rate was 7.6% and three implants underwent revision because of an aseptic loosening, an infection and a periprosthetic fracture due to trauma. Among 58 patients (63 hips) evaluated in an outpatient visit 10-16 years after surgery, improvement in clinically relevant scores comparing with baseline was observed: HOOS score increased after surgery in all its subcategories (from 32.25 ± 14.07% up to 91.91 ± 9.13%) as well as SF12 which increased by more than 18 percentage points. On clinical assessment, the range of motion (ROM) was restored at follow-up, 1 patient (1.7%) showed a squeaking hip and 2 (3.4%) reported leg-length discrepancy. Neutral stem positioning was achieved in 58 hips and heterotopic ossifications occurred in 10 hips (16%).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study reports good clinical and radiological outcomes following NANOS® short-stem hip implant at minimum 10 years-follow-up. Since the high rate of stem survivorship, the low complication rate demonstrated and the overall patient satisfaction, our results suggest NANOS® neck-preserving prostheses should be considered as a valid alternative to standard implants.

Biomaterials and Their Biomedical Applications: From Replacement to Regeneration

The history of biomaterials dates back to the mists of time: human beings had always used exogenous materials to facilitate wound healing and try to restore damaged tissues and organs. Nowadays, a wide variety of materials are commercially available and many others are under investigation to both maintain and restore bodily functions. Emerging clinical needs forced the development of new biomaterials, and lately discovered biomaterials allowed for the performing of new clinical applications. The definition of biomaterials as materials specifically conceived for biomedical uses was raised when it was acknowledged that they have to possess a fundamental feature: biocompatibility. At first, biocompatibility was mainly associated with biologically inert substances; around the 1970s, bioactivity was first discovered and the definition of biomaterials was consequently extended. At present, it also includes biologically derived materials and biological tissues. The present work aims at walking across the history of biomaterials, looking towards the scientific literature published on this matter. Finally, some current applications of biomaterials are briefly depicted and their future exploitation is hypothesized.

Effect of stem position and length on bone-stem constructs after cementless hip arthroplasty

Aims

There are concerns regarding initial stability and early periprosthetic fractures in cementless hip arthroplasty using short stems. This study aimed to investigate stress on the cortical bone around the stem and micromotions between the stem and cortical bone according to femoral stem length and positioning.

Methods

In total, 12 femoral finite element models (FEMs) were constructed and tested in walking and stair-climbing. Femoral stems of three different lengths and two different positions were simulated, assuming press-fit fixation within each FEM. Stress on the cortical bone and micromotions between the stem and bone were measured in each condition.

Results

Stress concentration was observed on the medial and lateral interfaces between the cortical bone and stem. With neutral stem insertion, mean stress over a region of interest was greater at the medial than lateral interface regardless of stem length, which increased as the stem shortened. Mean stress increased in the varus-inserted stems compared to the stems inserted neutrally, especially at the lateral interface in contact with the stem tip. The maximum stress was observed at the lateral interface in a varus-inserted short stem. All mean stresses were greater in stair-climbing condition than walking. Each micromotion was also greater in shorter stems and varus-inserted stems, and in stair-climbing condition.

Conclusion

The stem should be inserted neutrally and stair-climbing movement should be avoided in the early postoperative period, in order to preserve early stability and reduce the possibility of thigh pain, especially when using a shorter stem.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(4):250–258.

Complex Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: Small Stems for Big Challenges

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the most successful operations in all of medicine. Femoral deformities from malunion, prior osteotomy, and retained surgical implants all present unique challenges. Corrective osteotomy and hardware removal add significant morbidity to an operation that typically has a fast recovery. Short stems can be used in these cases to spare patients' increased morbidity. We present a case-based illustration and surgical technique for the use of short stems in complex primary total hip arthroplasty with femoral deformity and retained hardware. We discuss how these implants can spare significant morbidity, show radiographic examples of their use, and present short-term outcomes.

Development of an Instrument to Assess the Stability of Cementless Femoral Implants Using Vibration Analysis During Total Hip Arthroplasty

Objective: The level of primary implant fixation in cementless total hip arthroplasty is a key factor for the longevity of the implant. Vibration-based methods show promise for providing quantitative information to help surgeons monitor implant fixation intraoperatively. A thorough understanding of what is driving these changes in vibrational behavior is important for further development and improvement of these methods. Additionally, an instrument must be designed to enable surgeons to leverage these methods. This study addresses both of these issues. Method: An augmented system approach was used to develop an instrument that improves the sensitivity of the vibrational method and enables the implementation of the necessary excitation and measurement equipment. The augmented system approach took into account the dynamics of the existing bone-implant system and its interaction with the added instrument. Results: Two instrument designs are proposed, accompanied by a convergence-based method to determine the insertion endpoint. The modal strain energy density distribution was shown to affect the vibrational sensitivity to contact changes in certain areas. Conclusion: The augmented system approach led to an instrument design that improved the sensitivity to changes in the proximal region of the combined bone-implant-instrument system. This fact was confirmed both in silico and in vitro. Clinical Impact: The presented method and instruments address practical intraoperative challenges and provide perspective to objectively support the surgeon’s decision-making process, which will ensure optimal patient treatment.

Mid-term results of total hip arthroplasty using a novel uncemented short femoral stem with metaphyso-diaphyseal fixation

PURPOSE

Short stems were developed with the promise of providing easier implantation, facilitating revision, reducing thigh pain and proximal stress shielding. The aim of this study is to present the mid-term clinical results of a titanium short stem with modular neck.

METHODS

This is a prospective case series of 144 THAs performed on a series of 131 patients using the PROFEMUR Preserve Femoral Stem (MicroPort Orthopedics, Arlington, TN, USA). 2 surgeons, operated on the patients using a mini-posterior approach. The primary outcomes evaluated were stem revision for aseptic loosening and all-cause stem revision. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were also assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 144 THAs, there were 43 males and 101 females, with an average age of 61 (range 22-92) years at surgery. After a mean of 78 (range 53-87) months follow-up, there were 2 (1.5%) femoral implant revisions; 1 for early femoral periprosthetic fracture and 1 for fatigue failure of the modular femoral neck. There were no cases of stem aseptic loosening and radiographic analysis demonstrated no cases of stem migration. The mean UCLA activity, WOMAC and Fogotten Joint scores were respectively 6.1, 10.7 and 86.6. 70% of prosthetic hips were observed as having no restriction and 99.2% of patients were satisfied with their THA.

CONCLUSIONS

This short modular stem produced satisfactory clinical and radiological results at mid-term, with 98.5% implant survival for any cause of stem revision and no revisions for aseptic loosening. Long-term results are required to further evaluate the stem's promising early results.

The effect of different interference fits on the primary fixation of a cementless femoral component during experimental testing

Cementless femoral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components use a press-fit (referred to as interference fit) to achieve initial fixation. A higher interference fit could lead to a superior fixation, but it could also introduce more damage to the bone during implantation. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of interference fit on the micromotions and gap opening/closing at the bone-implant interface. Experimental tests were performed in six pairs of cadaveric femurs implanted with femoral components using a low interference fit of 350 μm and a high interference fit of 700 μm. The specimens were subjected to the peak loads of gait and squat, based on the Orthoload dataset. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) was used to measure the micromotions and opening/closing in different regions of interest (ROIs). Two linear mixed-effect statistical models were created with micromotions and gap opening/closing as dependent variables. ROIs, loading conditions, and implant designs as independent variables, and cadaver specimens as random intercepts. The results revealed no significant difference between the two interference fit implants for micromotions (p = 0.837 for gait and p = 0.065 for squat), nor for the gap opening/closing (p = 0.748 for gait and p = 0.561 for squat). In contrast, significant differences were found between loading and most of the ROIs in both dependent variables (p < 0.0001). Additionally, no difference in bone deformation was found between low and high interference fit. Changing interference between either 350 μm or 700 μm did not affect the primary stability of a femoral TKA component. There could be an interference fit threshold beyond which fixation does not further improve.

Clinical and radiographic outcomes with the Nanos™ short-stem hip implant at 24 months: A prospective, single-center study

Aim

Short-stem total hip arthroplasty is designed to preserve proximal bone stock in case of eventual revision, potentially benefiting younger and more active patients. This prospective, single-center study assessed the safety and performance of the partially neck-sparing Nanos™ short-stem uncemented prosthesis at 24 months using clinical outcome scores and radiographic results.

Methods

Between April 2011 and February 2015, 52 subjects (mean age, 54.9 years) underwent total hip arthroplasty and were followed up at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome was improvement in quality of life as measured by the Short-Form 36 Mental Component Score (SF-36 MCS). Secondary clinical outcomes included the Harris Hip Score, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Postel Merle d'Aubigné-Score, Activity Level University of California, Los Angeles score, and Pain Visual Analogue Scale. Complications and radiographic images were also recorded at each follow-up.

Results

Mean SF-36 MCS score significantly improved from baseline to final follow up at 24 months (61.3 vs. 79.5, respectively; p < 0.001). All secondary clinical outcomes also showed significant improvement (p < 0.001) during this time period. Neutral stem positioning was achieved in 45 subjects (86.5%). Two subjects (3.8%) underwent revisions: one for a periprosthetic fracture unrelated to the study device and another due to a prosthetic joint infection. Intraoperatively, one fissure fracture of the acetabulum occurred.

Conclusion

Total hip arthroplasty with the Nanos short-stem led to significant clinical improvements and a high subjective satisfaction rate at 24 months. Further follow-up will determine whether these effects are sustained in the long term.

On the design and properties of porous femoral stems with adjustable stiffness gradient

There is a large gap between the elastic modulus of the existing femoral stem and the host bone. This gap can lead to long-term complications, such as aseptic loosening and, eventually, a need for revision surgery. The porous metallic biomimetic femoral stem can effectively reduce stress shielding and provide firm implant fixation through bone ingrowth. The purpose of this research is to investigate the application of different porous femoral stems in relieving bone resorption and promoting osseointegration by finite element analysis. We present an intuitive visualization method based on a diamond lattice structure to understand the relationship between pore size, porosity, bone ingrowth criteria and additive manufacturing constraints. We further obtain an admissible design space of diamond lattice structure for porosity selection. We evaluate the relative micromotion of bone-implant interface and bone volume with density loss for three femoral stems with diamond lattice-based homogenous porous structures in admissible design space. We also evaluate porous femoral stems with four different grading orientations along the axial and radial directions of the femoral stem. These include an axial graded femoral stem with a porosity increased distally (DAGS), an axial graded femoral stem with a porosity increased proximally (PAGS), a radial graded femoral stem with a porosity increased inwardly (IRGS), and a radial graded femoral stem with a porosity increased externally (ERGS). The results indicate that: (i) homogenous porous femoral stems with 40% porosity, (ii) DAGS and (iii) IRGS can maintain the relative micromotion of the bone-implant interface in the safety range for bone ingrowth. The calculated volumes of bone with density loss in the cases of DAGS and IRGS are 3.6% and 3.3%, respectively, which are nearly 74% lower than that of fully dense stems. Therefore, DAGS and IRGS have an evident advantage in promoting osseointegration and relieving bone resorption. Thus, the graded femoral stem is more promising than the homogeneous porous stem.

An Ultra-Short Femoral Neck-Preserving Hip Prosthesis: A 2-Year Follow-up Study with Radiostereometric Analysis and Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry in a Stepwise Introduction

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a diaphyseal stem may risk bone loss. In order to save proximal bone stock in young patients with a high activity level and a long life expectancy, the interest in short stems has evolved. The purpose of this prospective observational cohort study was to evaluate the fixation of, and bone remodeling around, the Primoris femoral neck-preserving hip implant.

METHODS

Fifty younger patients with end-stage osteoarthritis were managed with the Primoris hip implant. We evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and implant migration using radiostereometric analysis (RSA). A region-of-interest (ROI) protocol for 4 ROIs was applied to assess BMD. The association between BMD and migration was evaluated to determine the fixation of the Primoris implant and bone remodeling in the proximal part of the femur. Follow-up evaluation was performed at regular intervals from day 1 (baseline) until 24 months after surgery.

RESULTS

The major stem migrations were subsidence (Y axis; mean, 0.38 mm) at 6 weeks and varus tilt (rotation) (Z axis; mean, 0.93°) at 6 to 12 months. In ROI4 (the calcar area), a significant gain in bone was found with a mean difference of 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8% to 7.4%; p < 0.02) at 24 months postoperatively. Significant bone loss was found in ROI1 and ROI2, with a mean difference of -4.9% (95% CI, -7.4% to -2.4%; p = 0.0003) and -8.9% (95% CI, -11.5% to -6.2%; p = 0.0001), respectively. Linear regression and multivariate regression analysis showed a significant negative association between maximal total point motion and BMD (p = 0.02, R = 15%; and p < 0.05, R = 26%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The Primoris component showed satisfactory primary stability with promising results at the 24-month follow-up. DXA scans showed limited stress-shielding with the proximal loading pattern of the Primoris. Better bone quality was associated with less implant migration.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Comparison of short-stem with conventional-stem prostheses in total hip arthroplasty: an 8-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

Coxarthrosis is a common disease of the adult hip joint. Elderly patients have mainly been treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA); however, younger patients are increasingly affected. Short-stem prostheses were developed for this special patient group. There have been few studies on the clinical outcomes of this type of prosthesis. This study compared the mid-term results of a short-stem prosthesis and a standard-stem prosthesis 8 years after implantation.

METHODS

According to our clinical registry, patients who received a short-stem prosthesis before 2011 were identified. Patients in the standard-stem prosthesis group were matched based on the sex, age, height, weight, and degree of arthrosis. At the follow-up time, the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were collected and compared with the preoperative values.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients could be matched and analyzed for both groups. No patients needed revision surgery. In both groups, there were significant improvements at the follow-up time. The pre- and postoperative mHHSs, UCLA scores, and VAS scores were 41.9 and 95 (p < 0.0001), 3.75 and 7.9 (p < 0.0001), and 7.6 and 0.9 (p < 0.0001), respectively, in the short-stem group and 44.8 and 96.25 (p < 0.0001), 3.6 and 7.7 (p < 0.0001), and 7.7 and 0.9 (p < 0.0001), respectively, in the control group, with no significant differences between the groups at the follow-up time.

CONCLUSION

The short-stem prosthesis provides mid-term results comparable to those of a standard-stem prosthesis. In both groups, excellent patient-reported outcomes were achieved after an average of 8 years.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

A comparative assessment of two designs of hip stem using rule-based simulation of combined osseointegration and remodelling

The stem–bone interface of cementless total hip arthroplasty undergoes an adaptive process of bone ingrowth until the two parts become osseointegrated. Another important phenomenon associated with aseptic loosening of hip stem is stress-shielding induced adverse bone remodelling. The objective of this study was to preclinically assess the relative performances of two distinct designs of hip stems by addressing the combined effect of bone remodelling and osseointegration, based on certain rule-based criteria obtained from the literature. Premised upon non-linear finite element analyses of patient-specific implanted femur models, the study attempts to ascertain in silico outcome of the hip stem designs based on an evolutionary interfacial condition, and to further comment on the efficacy of the rule-based technique on the prediction of peri-prosthetic osseointegration. One of the two hip stem models was a trade-off design obtained from an earlier shape optimization study, and the other was based on TriLock stem (DePuy). Both designs predicted similar long-term osseointegration (∼89% surface), although trade-off stem predicted higher post-operative osseointegration. Proximal bone resorption was found higher for TriLock (by ∼110%) as compared to trade-off model. The rule-based technique predicted clinically coherent osseointegration around both stems and appears to be an alternative to expensive mechanobiology-based schemes.

Finite Element Analysis of Different Hip Implant Designs along with Femur under Static Loading Conditions

Background:

The hip joint is the largest joint after the knee, which gives stability to the whole human structure. The hip joint consists of a femoral head which articulates with the acetabulum. Due to age and wear between the joints, these joints need to be replaced with implants which can function just as a natural joint. Since the early 19^th century, the hip joint arthroplasty has evolved, and many advances have been taken in the field which improved the whole procedure. Currently, there is a wide variety of implants available varying in the length of stem, shapes, and sizes.

Material and Methods:

In this analytical study of femur, circular, oval, ellipse and trapezoidal-shaped stem designs are considered in the present study. The human femur is modeled using Mimics. CATIA V-6 is used to model the implant models. Static structural analysis is carried out using ANSYS R-19 to evaluate the best implant design.

Results:

All the four hip implants exhibited the von Mises stresses, lesser than its yielded strength. However, circular and trapezoidal-shaped stems have less von Mises stress compared to ellipse and oval.

Conclusion:

This study shows the behavior of different implant designs when their cross-sections are varied. Further, these implants can be considered for dynamic analysis considering different gait cycles. By optimizing the implant design, life expectancy of the implant can be improved, which will avoid the revision of the hip implant in active adult patients.

Effect of anatomical variability on stress-shielding induced by short calcar-guided stems: Automated finite element analysis of 90 femora

Short stem hip implants are becoming increasingly popular since they preserve bone stock and presumably reduce stress-shielding. However, concerns remain whether they are suitable for a wide range of patients with varying anatomy. The aim of this study was to investigate how femoral anatomy influences stress-shielding induced by a short calcar-guided stem across a set of 90 CT-based femur models. A computational tool was developed that automatically selected the optimal size and position of the stem. Finite element models of the intact and implanted femurs were constructed and subjected to walking loads. Stress-shielding was evaluated in relevant volumes of interest of the proximal femur. After a detailed anatomical analysis, linear regression was performed to find potential correlations between anatomy and stress-shielding. Stress-shielding was found to be highest in the proximal regions on the medial and posterior side. A highly significant negative relationship was observed between stress-shielding and bone density; a strong positive relationship was observed with stem size and the valgus orientation of the stem with respect to the femur. The results reveal how anatomy influences stress-shielding, and they highlight the importance of evaluating new implant designs across a large population taking into account the anatomical variability. The study demonstrates that such large population studies can be conducted in an efficient way using an automated workflow. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 9999:1-8, 2019.

Intraosseous metal implants in orthopedics: A review

Metal implants are biomaterials widely used in orthopedics. They are both used in osteosynthesis and arthroplasty. Their mechanical properties, biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion make them a widely used option in orthopedics. Alloys are the most commonly used metals in orthopedics. As far as physical traumas are concerned, implants such as screws, plates and/or nails are used for osteosynthesis as they ensure the stability of the fractured area and contribute to bone healing. Prostheses are used in arthroplasty to restore joint function for as long as possible. Contact between bone and the prosthesis induces bone remodeling at the interface between metal and bone even if the metal is recognized as biocompatible. Upon time, the interface between the metal implant and the bony tissue is continuously modified and adapted. Hip prosthesis is a typical example of intraosseous metal implant whose bone/implant interface has been extensively studied. Metal can be altered in vivo by different mechanisms including corrosion and fretting. An altered torque friction leads to wear debris that accumulate in the peri-prosthetic tissues causing metallosis.

A Validated Open-Source Multisolver Fourth-Generation Composite Femur Model

Synthetic biomechanical test specimens are frequently used for preclinical evaluation of implant performance, often in combination with numerical modeling, such as finite-element (FE) analysis. Commercial and freely available FE packages are widely used with three FE packages in particular gaining popularity: abaqus (Dassault Systèmes, Johnston, RI), ansys (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA), and febio (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT). To the best of our knowledge, no study has yet made a comparison of these three commonly used solvers. Additionally, despite the femur being the most extensively studied bone in the body, no freely available validated model exists. The primary aim of the study was primarily to conduct a comparison of mesh convergence and strain prediction between the three solvers (abaqus, ansys, and febio) and to provide validated open-source models of a fourth-generation composite femur for use with all the three FE packages. Second, we evaluated the geometric variability around the femoral neck region of the composite femurs. Experimental testing was conducted using fourth-generation Sawbones® composite femurs instrumented with strain gauges at four locations. A generic FE model and four specimen-specific FE models were created from CT scans. The study found that the three solvers produced excellent agreement, with strain predictions being within an average of 3.0% for all the solvers (r2 > 0.99) and 1.4% for the two commercial codes. The average of the root mean squared error against the experimental results was 134.5% (r2 = 0.29) for the generic model and 13.8% (r2 = 0.96) for the specimen-specific models. It was found that composite femurs had variations in cortical thickness around the neck of the femur of up to 48.4%. For the first time, an experimentally validated, finite-element model of the femur is presented for use in three solvers. This model is freely available online along with all the supporting validation data.

Stable migration pattern of an ultra-short anatomical uncemented hip stem: a prospective study with 2 years radiostereometric analysis follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Shorter, anatomically shaped and proximally loading stems have been developed to achieve better stress distribution and be more bone preserving. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the migration pattern of the Proxima™ ultra-short uncemented stem using radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and to review the literature regarding the migration of short stemmed hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

25 patients (28 hips) with hip osteoarthritis received a Proxima stem during total hip arthroplasty (THA). To measure stem migration, repeated RSA examinations were done during a 2 year follow up period. The patients were evaluated with the hip specific (HOOS) and the generic health (EQ5D) scores up to 1 year, and clinically for 6 years postoperatively.

RESULTS

Almost all migration occurred within the first 3 months, with mean subsidence of 0.22 mm and varus rotation of 1.04°, being the primary effect variables. After the third postoperative month and up to the 2 year RSA follow up no further significant migration occurred. The outcome scores showed substantial improvement after 1 year. No revisions were performed or indicated for any stem after a mean clinical follow up of 72.1 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Like many other uncemented stems, the Proxima showed early migration up to 3 months hereafter osseointegration seems to have occurred. The achieved stability and clinical outcomes indicate favorable early results for this stem in younger patients who have good bone quality and average BMI. We found, however, the surgical technique to be slightly more demanding compared to conventional stems owing to the unique implant design that necessitates specific adjusted femoral cutting and broaching procedures.

The Influence of Tribological Pairings and Other Factors on Migration Patterns of Short Stems in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Over the last decade, the number of short stem total hip arthroplasty procedures has increased. Along with the possible benefits associated with short stems is a smaller implant-bone contact surface, which may have a negative influence on primary stability and impair osseointegration. Previous studies observed migration of short stems, especially within the first three months. The variables that influence migration in short stem hip implants remain unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to associate the migration of short stems with its possible influencing variables. Migration data from two different short stem studies were retrospectively analyzed. Migration within the first two postoperative years was determined by model-based Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. Migration was correlated to bearing couple, type and size of stem, size of acetabular cup, and age, gender, weight, and height of patients using a multiple factor analysis. Eigenvalue analysis explained 80.7% of the overall variance for the first three dimensions. The four most dominant variables in the first dimension were weight, stem size, acetabular cup size, and patient height (correlations of 0.81, 0.80, 0.71, and 0.70, resp.). None of the analyzed parameters (bearing couple, type and size of stem, size of acetabular cup, and age, gender, weight, and height of patients) affected the migration pattern of short stem THA with primary metaphyseal fixation.

On the Two-Dimensional Simplification of Three-Dimensional Cementless Hip Stem Numerical Models

Three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models are commonly used to analyze the mechanical behavior of the bone under different conditions (i.e., before and after arthroplasty). They can provide detailed information but they are numerically expensive and this limits their use in cases where large or numerous simulations are required. On the other hand, 2D models show less computational cost, but the precision of results depends on the approach used for the simplification. Two main questions arise: Are the 3D results adequately represented by a 2D section of the model? Which approach should be used to build a 2D model that provides reliable results compared to the 3D model? In this paper, we first evaluate if the stem symmetry plane used for generating the 2D models of bone-implant systems adequately represents the results of the full 3D model for stair climbing activity. Then, we explore three different approaches that have been used in the past for creating 2D models: (1) without side-plate (WOSP), (2) with variable thickness side-plate and constant cortical thickness (SPCT), and (3) with variable thickness side-plate and variable cortical thickness (SPVT). From the different approaches investigated, a 2D model including a side-plate best represents the results obtained with the full 3D model with much less computational cost. The side-plate needs to have variable thickness, while the cortical bone thickness can be kept constant.

Short-stem prostheses in primary total hip arthroplasty: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Short-stem (SS) prostheses require less resection of the femoral neck, produce a more physiological load pattern in the proximal femur, reduce stress shielding, and aid bone conservation and are, therefore, beneficial for young patients. Conventional cementless implants in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have shown excellent clinical results; however, it is unclear whether SS prostheses can obtain the same clinical and radiological outcomes. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate whether SS prostheses are superior to conventional implants after primary THA.

METHODS

We reviewed the literature published up to June 2016 from PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to find relevant RCTs comparing SSs and conventional stems in primary THA. Quality assessment was performed by 2 independent reviewers. The RevMan 5.3 software program of the Cochrane Collaboration was used to analyze the data. Random- or fixed-effect models were used to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each comparison.

RESULTS

Six RCTs involving 552 patients with 572 hips were identified. Strong evidence indicated that SS prostheses were more effective for reducing thigh pain than conventional implants (I = 46%, P = 0.002; risk ratio [RR], 95% CI 0.15, 0.04-0.49). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in Harris Hip Scores (I = 0%, P = 0.84; SMD, 95% CI 0.02, -0.15-0.18), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Scores (I = 0%, P = 0.35; SMD, 95% CI 0.09, -0.10-0.27), femoral offset of stem (I = 0%, P = 0.57; SMD, 95% CI 0.06, -0.16-0.29), and leg-length discrepancy (I = 79%, P = 0.88; SMD, 95% CI 0.04, -0.44-0.51).

CONCLUSION

SS prostheses achieve the same clinical and radiological outcomes as conventional implants, and were superior in terms of reducing thigh pain. But whether the postoperative thigh pain applied in 2nd-generation cementless prosthesis still needs further large-scale multicenter studies with longer follow-up to confirm.

Comparison of proximal humeral bone stresses between stemless, short stem, and standard stem length: a finite element analysis

BACKGROUND

The stem lengths of humeral components used in shoulder arthroplasty vary; however, the literature on these devices is limited. This finite element study investigates the effect of humeral component length on stresses in the proximal humerus.

METHODS

Intact and 3 reconstructed (standard length, short, and stemless implants) finite element models were created from shoulder computed tomography scan data (N = 5). Loading was simulated at varying abduction angles (15°, 45°, and 75°). The average bone stress (represented as a percentage of intact values) was reported at 8 transverse slices. In addition, the overall average change in cortical and trabecular bone stresses was quantified.

RESULTS

Cortical bone stresses in the most proximal slice for the standard (58% ± 12%) and short (78% ± 10%) stem models were significantly reduced compared with the intact (100%) and stemless (101% ± 6%) models (P = .005). These reductions persisted in the second cortical slice for the standard stem compared with the intact, stemless, and short models (P = .025). Interestingly, stresses in the trabecular bone within these proximal slices were significantly elevated when stemless implants were used compared with all other implants (P < .001), regardless of abduction angle.

CONCLUSION

Reducing stem length produced humeral stresses that more closely matched the intact stress distribution in proximal cortical bone. Opposing trends presented in the proximal trabecular bone, probably because of differences in load transfer when shorter stems are used. Accordingly, the results suggest that implant stem length is 1 variable that can be modified in an attempt to better mimic intact bone stresses during humeral component insertion, provided stem fixation is adequate.

Analysis of migration of the Nanos® short-stem hip implant within two years after surgery

PURPOSE

Short-stem implants provide a bone-preserving alternative in total hip arthroplasty. However, some evidence exists that the smaller implant-bone contact surface may compromise primary stability and impair osseo-integration. The purpose of this study was to analyse the migration characteristics of the Nanos® short stem over two years by means of model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (MBRSA).

METHODS

Eighteen patients aged 53.6 ± 7.2 years were included. After being treated with a Nanos implant, 14 patients were followed-up radiologically at three, six, 12 and 24 months by means of MBRSA. Early implant migration was calculated. Clinical data have been assessed in addition.

RESULTS

Highest translational migration was observed with a mean value of -0.22 ± 0.39 mm along the proximo-distal axis after three months and highest rotational migration with 0.8 ± 3.2° also around the y-axis after two years. The resulting total migration was 0.46 ± 0.31 mm, with the largest proportion occurring within three months after surgery (0.40 ± 0.34 mm).

CONCLUSION

The Nanos short-stem hip implant shows only a slight initial migration within three months after implantation, followed by secondary stabilisation. These results suggest both good primary stability and osseo-integration, suggesting a low risk of aseptic loosening.

Short stems in total hip replacement: current status and future

Short stem hip implants have been introduced as a bone preserving surgery for younger and more active people undergoing hip arthroplasty. Although many short stems are now available, clinical results and long-term survival are controversial. The aim of this paper is to describe the features of the short stems and to analyse their clinical results and long-term survival. The short-stem implants reproduce a stress distribution at the level of the proximal femur more similar to the physiological femur limiting the stress-shielding that occur with conventional cementless stems. Though short stems are an alternative to conventional stems, their use is not yet justified despite the promising short and mid-term survival results. Higher incidence of complications, such as periprosthetic fractures and malpositioning of the stem, and the lack of long-term results do not allow to predict what role in the future short stems in total hip replacement may have.

Assessment of retention force and bone apposition in two differently coated femoral stems after 6 months of loading in a goat model

Background

Since the introduction of uncemented hip implants, there has been a search for the best surface coating to enhance bone apposition in order to improve retention. The surface coating of the different stems varies between products. The aim was to assess the retention force and bone adaption in two differently coated stems in a weight-bearing goat model.

Materials and methods

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and electrochemically deposited calcium phosphate (CP; Bonit®) on geometrically comparable titanium-based femoral stems were implanted into 12 (CP group) and 35 (HA group) goats. The animal model included physiological loading of the implants for 6 months. The pull-out force of the stems was measured, and bone apposition was microscopically evaluated.

Results

After exclusion criteria were applied, the number of available goats was 4 in the CP group and 11 in the HA group. The CP-coated stems had significantly lower retention forces compared with the HA-coated ones after 6 months (CP median 47 N, HA median 1,696 N, p = 0.003). Bone sections revealed a lower degree of bone apposition in the CP-coated stems, with more connective tissue in the bone/implant interface compared with the HA group.

Conclusion

In this study, HA had better bone apposition and needed greater pull-out force in loaded implants. The application of CP on the loaded titanium surface to enhance the apposition of bone is questioned.

The short stem: promises and pitfalls

Conventional uncemented femoral implants provide dependable long-term fixation in patients with a wide range of functional requirements. Yet challenges associated with proximal-distal femoral dimensional mismatch, preservation of bone stock, and minimally invasive approaches have led to exploration into alternative implant designs. Short stem designs focusing on a stable metaphyseal fit have emerged to address these issues in total hip replacement (THR). Uncemented metaphyseal-engaging short stem implants are stable and are associated with proximal bone remodeling closer to the metaphysis when compared with conventional stems and they also have comparable clinical performances. Short stem metaphyseal-engaging implants can meet the goals of a successful THR, including tolerating a high level of patient function, as well as durable fixation.