Cementless Metasul metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty in patients less than fifty years old

BACKGROUND: Durable results of total hip arthroplasty have been difficult to achieve in young patients. We reviewed the intermediate-term clinical and radiographic results in a series of active, higher-demand patients who were less than fifty years old when they underwent cementless total hip arthroplasty with the use of the Metasul metal-on-metal articulation. METHODS: Seventy total hip arthroplasties were performed in sixty-two patients who were younger than fifty years of age (average age, thirty-seven years). Two patients (two hips) had had a resection arthroplasty because of deep infection less than five years postoperatively and were excluded. Sixty patients (sixty-eight hips) were available for complete clinical and radiographic analysis after a mean duration of follow-up of seven years. RESULTS: The mean preoperative Harris hip score of 49 points improved to 95 points at the time of final follow-up; fifty-six patients (93%) had an excellent result. No component was seen to be loose radiographically at the time of final follow-up. Only one focal area of pelvic osteolysis in one patient and two small focal areas of femoral osteolysis in another patient were identified. The hip with focal pelvic osteolysis underwent revision surgery with a liner change and bone-grafting of the osteolytic lesion around a stable component. CONCLUSIONS: At a mean of seven years after arthroplasties with a Metasul metal-on-metal articulation, there was a low rate of osteolysis and aseptic loosening in this group of young patients. However, additional follow-up is necessary to determine any possible long-term deleterious effects associated with this metal-on-metal articulation.     

Cemented total hip replacement in patients who are less than fifty years old

Forty-five cemented total hip replacements in thirty-eight patients who were less than fifty years old were followed with physical examinations and radiographs for five to eleven years (average, 7.3 years) after surgery. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was 40.7 years. The average Iowa hip rating at follow-up was 91.9 points (range, 58 to 100 points). No surgical deaths, infections, or dislocations were encountered. All of the patients had been repeatedly advised to avoid running, jumping, heavy labor, and lifting more than forty pounds (eighteen kilograms). Revision of a prosthetic component was necessary in four hips (8.9 per cent); all of the revisions were successful. Radiolucent lines were seen about the acetabular components of thirty-one hips but in only three (6.6 per cent) were these judged to be progressive bone-cement demarcation lines. Only one of those three hips was symptomatic. Three hips (6.6 per cent) also had subsidence of the femoral component into the femoral canal, but only one hip was symptomatic. Resorption of the medial aspect of the proximal end of the femur was seen in five hips, the maximum resorption being three to five millimeters. I have concluded that cemented total hip arthroplasty can give acceptable results in patients who are thirty to fifty years old, and that the result can be reasonably long-lasting if the patients are willing to avoid strenuous activity.     

Ten-year results with hydroxyapatite-coated total hip femoral components in patients less than fifty years old. A concise follow-up of a previous report

We report the results of total hip arthroplasty with use of a proximally hydroxyapatite-coated femoral component after a minimum follow-up of ten years in a group of patients who were less than fifty years old at the time of the primary procedure. In the five years since the original publication of our study, two additional stems have undergone revision. Thus, a total of six stems have been revised. A small amount of erosive scalloping of the proximal part of the femur was seen in nearly one-half of the hips; however, all unrevised stems were radiographically stable and no hip had intramedullary osteolysis. The revision rate because of aseptic loosening of the stem was 0.9%, which compares favorably with that for other stems and other fixation methods in young patients at this point in time. This stem is currently being paired with a highly cross-linked polyethylene liner because of cup failures and the need for reoperation secondary to excessive polyethylene wear and proximal femoral osteolysis.     

Implant survival and radiographic outcome of total hip replacement in patients less than 20 years old

Background and purpose — Total hip replacement (THR) is not recommended for children and very young teenagers because early and repetitive revisions are likely. We investigated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of THR performed in children and teenage patients.

Patients and methods — We included 111 patients (132 hips) who underwent THR before 20 years of age. They were identified in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, together with information on the primary diagnosis, types of implants, and any revisions that required implant change. Radiographs and Harris hip score (HHS) were also evaluated.

Results — The mean age at primary THR was 17 (11–19) years and the mean follow-up time was 14 (3–26) years. The 10-year survival rate after primary THR (with the endpoint being any revision) was 70%. 39 patients had at least 1 revision and 16 patients had 2 or more revisions. In the latest radiographs, osteolysis and atrophy were observed in 19% and 27% of the acetabulae and 21% and 62% of the femurs, respectively. The mean HHS at the final follow-up was 83 (15–100).

Interpretation — The clinical score after THR in these young patients was acceptable, but many revisions had been performed. However, young patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip had lower implant survival. Moreover, the bone stock in these patients was poor, which could complicate future revisions.     

Total hip arthroplasty with cement. A long-term radiographic analysis in patients who are older than fifty and younger than fifty years

The long-term performance of a total of 712 Charnley and STH prostheses was evaluated as a function of the patient's age (older than fifty years or younger than fifty years) and of the underlying disease (osteoarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or avascular necrosis). In patients who were older than fifty years, there were lower incidences of continuous cement-bone radiolucency about the acetabular component (p = 0.04), wear of the polyethylene acetabular cup (p = 0.03), and resorption of the calcar (p = 0.03). However, larger percentages of younger patients had rheumatoid arthritis or avascular necrosis. In the cohort of patients who had osteoarthrosis, the performance of the prosthesis did not differ significantly between older and younger patients; therefore we attributed the differences that were observed to the disease--that is, to rheumatoid arthritis or avascular necrosis.     

Twenty-five-year results after Charnley total hip arthroplasty in patients less than fifty years old: a concise follow-up of a previous report

We report the updated results for a previously evaluated cohort of patients who were less than fifty years old when they underwent Charnley total hip arthroplasty with cement. The original cohort consisted of ninety-three total hip arthroplasties performed in sixty-nine patients. The patients were followed for a minimum of twenty-five years after surgery or until death. The present report describes the findings of the radiographic and functional follow-up, which was performed for forty-two of the forty-three living patients. At the time of the latest follow-up, twenty-nine (31%) of the ninety-three total hip replacements had been revised or removed. Eighteen acetabular and five femoral components were revised secondary to aseptic loosening. The combined prevalence of radiographic failure or revision because of aseptic loosening was 13% for the femoral components and 34% for the acetabular components. Comorbid medical conditions significantly hindered results on each functional subscale (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the durability of cemented total hip replacements in a young patient population. Sixty-nine percent of the original hip replacements were functioning well at the latest follow-up examination or at the time of death, and only 5% required more than one revision arthroplasty.     

Survival and polyethylene wear of porous-coated acetabular components in patients less than fifty years old: results at nine to fourteen years

BACKGROUND: Younger patients (those who are less than fifty years old) have been shown to have a high rate of failure of cemented acetabular components following total hip arthroplasty. In this report, we present the results associated with the use of an uncemented acetabular component in young patients who were evaluated at a minimum of nine years postoperatively. METHODS: Between December 1984 and December 1989, the senior author performed 174 primary total hip arthroplasties with use of a single design of porous-coated acetabular component. Seventy-one of these procedures were performed in fifty-six patients who were younger than fifty years old. Fifty-six of the seventy-one hips were available for radiographic and clinical analysis after a mean duration of follow-up of eleven years. All hips had been treated with a Harris-Galante-I porous-coated acetabular component that had been placed with a line-to-line fit and fixed with a mean of four screws. Clinical analysis was performed with use of the Harris hip score. Standardized anteroposterior radiographs were analyzed with regard to migration, radiolucent lines, pelvic osteolysis, and two-dimensional linear wear of the polyethylene. RESULTS: No metal shell was revised because of aseptic loosening, and no shell was loose at the time of the latest follow-up. A nonprogressive radiolucent line was seen in one zone in ten hips (18%) and in two zones in six hips (11%). No hip had a radiolucent line in all three zones. Pelvic osteolysis was noted in thirteen hips (23%); the osteolysis was observed in the ischium in eleven hips and around the screws in two. Survivorship analysis revealed that the probability of survival of the metal shell was 98% (95% confidence interval, 96.9% to 99.9%) at ten years. The mean rate of linear polyethylene wear (and standard deviation) was 0.15 +/- 0.10 mm/yr (range, 0.02 to 0.59 mm/yr). The wear rate was significantly increased in patients with an excellent Harris hip score (p = 0.004) and a younger age (less than thirty-eight years) (p = 0.026). With the numbers available, no relationship could be detected between the wear rate and the gender or weight of the patient, the polyethylene thickness, the abduction angle, or the femoral neck length. CONCLUSIONS: The fixation and survival of porous-coated acetabular metal shells in patients less than fifty years old was excellent after a mean duration of follow-up of eleven years. The high rate of linear polyethylene wear and the high prevalence of pelvic osteolysis are of serious concern in this patient population. Continued follow-up will be necessary to evaluate the influence of these findings on the longevity of the fixation of this prosthesis.     

Proximal tibial osteotomy in patients who are fifty years old or less. A long-term follow-up study

Proximal tibial valgus osteotomy was performed for unicompartmental osteoarthritis in forty-five patients (fifty-one knees). The average age of the patients was forty-one years (range, twenty-three to fifty years), and the average length of follow-up was ten years. At follow-up, 70 per cent (thirty-six knees) were rated as good or excellent and 30 per cent (fifteen knees) were rated as fair or poor. There was no clear correlation between the quality of the result and the radiographic evidence of the severity of the arthritis preoperatively, the age of the patient at osteotomy, or the length of follow-up. There was a correlation between an improved result and an increased angle of correction after osteotomy, but the values were not statistically significant. The most important factor influencing the quality of results was the over-all level of disease in the knee as reflected in the preoperative knee score. Deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament at the time of the osteotomy did not prevent a good result. We believe that proximal tibial osteotomy for unicompartmental arthritis of the knee is a good and effective procedure for patients who are less than fifty years old and who have an active life-style, and that lasting results can be achieved if the procedure is done early in the course of the disease.     

Carcinoma of the bladder in patients less than 40 years old

Records of fifteen patients less than 40 years old with carcinoma of the bladder are reviewed. Fourteen patients with transitional cell carcinoma had well or moderately differentiated superficial papillary tumours. One patient with adenocarcinoma died within 4 months with progressive disease. Four patients experienced recurrences and 9 patients had no recurrence of tumour after a mean follow-up of 55 months. It is concluded that the fate of patients younger than 40 years with bladder cancer is not different from those in older age groups.     

Carcinoma of the bladder in patients less than 40 years old

The records were reviewed of 22 patients with bladder carcinoma before they were 40 years old to determine whether age alone influenced the course of the disease. There were 19 men and 3 women, reflecting a male predominance of 6 to 1. Of the 9 patients with superficial stage A/O disease 8 are alive 6 months to 28 years after diagnosis, the remaining patient being lost to followup. The other 13 patients with tumors invading muscle are dead, 11 as a direct result of the disease. No evidence was found to substantiate earlier reports that bladder carcinoma in young patients has a more benign behavior.     

Revision total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 55 years old. Clinical and radiologic results after 4 years

Since 1979, all revision total hip arthroplasties performed in Sweden have been entered into a prospective multicenter study. Between 1979 and 1982, 65 patients (67 hips) younger than 55 years old required revision arthroplasty because of aseptic loosening. These patients were followed clinically and radiographically for 2-6 years (mean, 4 years). Thirteen patients requiring a second revision because of a recurrent aseptic loosening and one because of subluxations were classified as failures and were not included in the final follow-up study. In the remaining 52 hips (50 patients), the results, rated by the Harris hip score, were good or excellent in 15 hips (29%), fair in 9 hips (17%), and poor in 28 hips (54%). Early complications were rare. Ten hips in 10 patients had radiographic signs of gross loosening of the acetabular or femoral component. mechanical failure, defined as gross loosening or a second revision, was identified in 36% of hips included in the study (n = 67). Revision hip arthroplasty using cement in young and middle-aged patients with cemented primary arthroplasty gave a high rate of failure, because of aseptic loosening. The use of alternative methods and techniques must be explored for revision surgery in younger patients.     

Total hip arthroplasty in patients less than 40 years old with avascular necrosis of the femoral head. A 5 to 19-year follow-up study

We evaluated 34 total hip arthroplasties (THA) for avascular necrosis of the femoral head in 26 patients who were younger than 40 years at the time of the index operation. The average age at the time of THA was 283 (17-38) years. The mean follow-up was 10.9 (5-19) years. We used 6 cemented and 28 cementless acetabular components and a cemented polished tapered stem in all hips. The mean Charnley modified Merle d' Aubigné Postel score was 8.9 points preoperatively and 16.6 points at final follow-up. Two cemented metal-backed cups were revised because of aseptic loosening at 10 years, one cemented polyethylene cup failed at 12 years and 2 more all polyethylene cups had pending failure. The metal-backed cemented cups and the all polyethylene cups had a longer follow-up than the uncemented cups. Therefore and because of the proven unfavourable long-term outcome of the cemented metal-backed Exeter cup we are not able to draw any firm conclusions regarding the preferred choice between cemented and uncemented cups in this particular group of patients. On the femoral site none of the stems had to be revised. Our results show that a cemented polished tapered femoral component has an excellent survival in primary total hip replacement in young patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.     

Promising mid-term results of total hip arthroplasties using an uncemented lateral-flare hip prosthesis: a clinical and radiographic study

The clinical results after total hip replacements using noncemented stems have shown considerable variability over the years; the design and characteristics of the implant seemed to play a role in explaining this fact. The purpose of this paper is to report the clinical, radiographic and densitometry results of total hip arthroplasties using a stem designed for noncemented implantation and to engage and load the femur proximally. Fifty-eight consecutive patients (62 hips) followed for an average of 4.3 years (range 36-70 months) were clinically and radiographically followed up at three weeks, three months, six months, one year, and yearly thereafter. The average pre-operative Harris hip score was 49 increasing to 98 at the latest follow-up. There were no cases of aseptic or septic loosening. The average subsidence at three years was 0.45 mm (SD +/- 0.36 mm). Radiographically all hips were classified as stable, and evident changes compatible with new bone apposition were observed in 64% of the cases. The extended proximal geometry of the device seems to favour initial and secondary stability as reflected by the low subsidence values over time. The maintenance of periprosthetic bone stock and the absence of stress shielding can be explained by the predominantly proximal loading pattern of the stem.