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Promising clinical results seen with short-stemmed THR
Satoshi K. Curr Orthop Pract. 2011. doi: 10.1097/BCO.0b013e3181f4b2bb.
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A recently published study shows satisfactory Harris Hip scores following total hip arthroplasty using a short-stemmed prosthesis and links stem position and size with the development of bone trabeculae and stem subsidence with radiolucent lines.
Researchers studied 106 total hip arthroplasties performed using a short, cementless stem measuring between 90 and 110 mm. The patients had a average age of 50.9 years at the time of surgery and were followed for an average of 64 months.
The researchers discovered that the average Harris Hip score improved 41.9 points from preoperative to postoperative measurements. They found that bone trabeculae developed in 87 hips, and radiolucent lines appeared in 29 hips.
Three hips had more than 2 mm of stem subsidence and had stems with valgus angles of 13°, 12° and -8°. “In the third hip, the inserted stem was small relative to the proximal femur,” the authors wrote. “These three hips did not exhibit any development of bone trabeculae, but did show radiolucent lines.”