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Background Bone-saving hip arthroplasty techniques, which facilitate revision, are gaining importance as the number of hip replacements in younger patients increases.

Patients and methods 123 CUT femoral neck prostheses (ESKA Implants, Lübeck, Germany) were implanted in 113 patients (average age 53 years) between 1999 and 2002. After a mean follow-up of 5 (3–7) years, we determined the state of 120 prostheses; 3 patients could not be located. 97 patients with 107 prostheses, none of which had been revised, were evaluated clinically and radiographically.

Results The median Harris hip score improved from 51 points to 92 points in the unrevised hips. 13 CUT prostheses (11%) had been revised, 7 because of aseptic loosening, 3 because of persisting thigh pain, 1 because of immediate vertical migration, and 2 because of septic loosening. The 5-year survival rate of the CUT prosthesis was 89%.

Interpretation The medium-term survival with this type of femoral component is unsatisfactory, with a high rate of aseptic loosening. The surviving prostheses had a good clinical outcome.