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Investigators find low incidence of aseptic loosening at 20 years with Taperloc stem

No patients were lost to follow-up and only one femoral component was revised for aseptic loosening.

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SAN DIEGO — Long-term results with the Taperloc femoral component demonstrated a high survival rate with a 1% incidence of aseptic loosening and a 6% osteolysis rate, according to a study presented here.

Jeffrey McLaughlin, MD, of Oshkosh, Wis., and colleague Kyla R. Lee, MD, evaluated 145 consecutive uncemented total hip arthroplasties in 138 patients. One surgeon performed all surgeries and implanted the Taperloc femoral components [Biomet] in all cases between 1983 and 1985.

McLaughlin presented the results of the prospective study at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.

"The most striking finding in this report was the low incidence of aseptic loosening," McLaughlin told Orthopedics Today. "In all 145 hips in patients living and deceased, only one femoral component was revised for aseptic loosening."

Before the minimum 18-year follow-up, 80 patients (80 hips) had died, but researchers confirmed that 75 of these hips (94%) remained in place. Revisions among deceased patients included three well-fixed components revised during acetabular revision, one revised for late sepsis and one for loosening at 3 days postop, McLaughlin said.

The researchers performed complete clinical and radiological evaluations on the remaining 65 hips of 58 patients at an average 20-year follow-up. Surgeons revised three hips (4%) for late sepsis and five (8%) well-fixed components during acetabular component revision. Of those hips not revised, only one component showed radiographic evidence of loosening.

"Based on these findings, we believe the Taperloc femoral component provides excellent long-term fixation in patients who undergo primary total hip replacement," McLaughlin said.

For more information:

• McLaughlin and Lee received financial and research support from Biomet.
• Lee KR, McLaughlin J. Total hip arthroplasty using a tapered femoral component: a 20-year average follow-up study. #161. Presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 74th Annual Meeting. Feb. 14-18, 2007. San Diego.