Information for Medical Professionals

Un-cemented THA loosening rate is low

The loosening rate of un-cemented total hip arthroplasty (THa) performed with a tapered femoral component is less than one per cent, according to new research.

Speaking at the 26th Annual Current Concepts in Joint Replacement Winter Meeting, surgeon Jeffrey McLaughlin presented research which showed that of the 138 patients studied who underwent THA between 1983 and 1985, just one experienced loosening of their implant after a 22 to 26 year follow-up.

McLaughlin said: "The most striking finding of this report was the low incidence of femoral disease at 26 years,"

The single loose implant was installed in a patient suffering from polio, so in patients without poliomyelitis, the loosening rate in the follow-up period was actually zero per cent.

According to research conducted at the Hopital Gabriel Montpied's Service de Chirurgie Orthopedique et Traumatologique, in Clermont-Ferrand, France, hard-wearing surfaces on components used in total hip replacement surgery could boost the life of the prosthesis by reducing the amount of debris in the joint.

---

<< Back

News provided by Adfero in collaboration with Biomet. Please note that all copy is (c) Adfero Ltd and does not reflect the views or opinions of Biomet unless explicitly stated.