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Increasing the stem size during surgery is associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative periprosthetic fractures in cementless total hip arthroplasty with fully coated tapered wedge stems, especially in femurs of Dorr type A. If in contrast a stem is implanted and sufficient primary stability is not achieved, such preventing successful osseointegration due to increased micromotions, it may also fail, especially if the stem is undersized. Stem loosening or periprosthetic fractures due to stem subsidence can be the consequence. The adaptation of an established stem design to femurs of Dorr type A by design modifications, which increase the stem width proximally combined with a smaller stem tip and an overall shorter stem, might reduce the risk of distal locking of a proximally inadequately fixed stem and provide increased stability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such a modified stem design provides improved primary stability without increasing the periprosthetic fracture risk compared to the established stem design. The established (Corail, DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, US) and modified stem designs (Emphasys, DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, US) were implanted in cadaveric femur pairs (n = 6 pairs) using the respective instruments. Broaching and implantation forces were recorded and the contact areas between the prepared cavity and the stem determined. Implanted stems were subjected to two different cyclic loading conditions according to ISO 7206-4 using a material testing machine (1 Hz, 600 cycles @ 80 to 800 N, 600 cycles @ 80 to 1600 N). Translational and rotational relative motions between stem and femur were recorded using digital image correlation. Broaching and implantation forces for the modified stem were up to 40% higher (p = 0.024), achieving a 23% larger contact area between stem and bone (R2 = 0.694, p = 0.039) resulting in a four times lower subsidence during loading (p = 0.028). The slight design modifications showed the desired effect in this in-vitro study resulting in a higher primary stability suggesting a reduced risk of loosening. The higher forces required during the preparation of the cavity with the new broaches and during implantation of the stem could bare an increased risk for intraoperative periprosthetic fractures, which did not occur in this study., Competing Interests: MMM is a paid consultant of DePuy Synthes and obtains research support as a Principal Investigator from Ceramtec, DePuy, and Beiersdorf. He obtains speaker’s fees from Aesculap, Ceramtec, DePuy, Zimmer, Peter Brehm, Corin, and Mathys andis in the editorial board “Trauma und Berufskrankheit.” GH is an associated member of the board of the German Society of Biomechanics. F. L. is a paid consultant of Depuy Synthes and Aesculap. B. O. is a board member of the German Society of Legal Medicine., (Copyright: © 2024 Glismann et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The ideal stem size and stem position is important for the success of total hip arthroplasty, since it can affect early implant loosening and periprosthetic fractures (PPF). This study aimed to investigate how small deviations from the ideal stem size and position influences the PPF risk and primary stability. Six experienced surgeons performed preoperative templating based on which the benchmark size for each femur was determined. Consecutive implantations were performed in six cadaveric femur pairs-one side was implanted with an undersized stem followed by the benchmark size and the contralateral side with a benchmark size followed by an oversized stem (Corail, Depuy Synthes). Moreover, three different alignments (six varus, six neutral, six valgus-undersized) were compared using 18 femurs. Cortical strains during broaching and implantation were measured, and laser scans were used to determine final stem position. All specimens underwent dynamic loading. Primary stability was estimated from stem subsidence and pull-out forces. Templated stem size varied between surgeons (±1 size; p = 0.005). Undersizing increased stem subsidence by 320% (p < 0.001). Oversized stems exhibited 52% higher pull-out forces (p = 0.001) and 240% higher cortical strains (p = 0.056). Cortex strains increased with varus alignment (R 2  = 0.356, p = 0.011) while primary stability decreased with valgus stem alignment (p = 0.043). Surgeons should be aware that small deviations from the ideal stem size and malalignments of the stem can significantly alter the mechanical situation and affect the success of their surgery., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Introduction: In revision surgery, modular implant components allow the surgeon to tailor the characteristics of the implant to the bone situation. Relative motion can occur at the tapered modular connection, leading to fretting corrosion and subsequent biological reactions, particularly due to poor assembly and contamination of the tapered connection. The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether incomplete assembly and inadvertent contamination of the modular taper causes a change in junction strength., Material and Methods: Modular taper junctions between the neck and the stem (n = 48) were divided into seven groups that differed with respect to contamination (native, contaminated, cleaned) and assembly conditions (secured, pre-tensioned and secured). Contamination was achieved by a combination of porcine bone particles and bovine blood. For each group, the number of rotations of the torque limiter while securing the conical connection was recorded. The implants were subjected to cyclic loading. DIC was used to determine neck rotation, micromotion and axial subsidence. Loosening torque of the locking screw and pull-off forces were measured as an equivalent of residual taper junction strength., Results: Contamination of the taper junction, especially in combination with improper assembly of the components, significantly increased the rotation (35.3 ± 13.7° vs. 2.4 ± 4.4°; p <0.001), micromotion (67.8 ± 16.9 μm vs. 5.1 ± 12.1 μm, p <0.001) and axial subsidence (‑34.1 ± 16.9 μm vs. 4.3 ± 10.9 μm; p <0.001) of the neck relative to the stem., Conclusion: Intra-operatively, contamination of the taper surface can be identified by the need for multiple turns when tightening the locking screw. Correct cleaning with the new taper cleaning instrument and complete assembly with pre-tensioning may reduce the risk of early failure and fatigue fracture of the modular taper connection., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite the success of primary total hip arthroplasty, the number of revisions remains high. Infection, aseptic loosening, periprosthetic fractures and dislocations are the leading causes of hip revision. Current revision stem designs feature a tapered body with circumferential placed longitudinal thin metal splines that cut into the femoral cortex of the diaphysis to provide axial and rotational stability. Modifications to the spline design may help improve primary stability in various bone qualities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the rotational stability of a revision hip stem can be improved by an additional set of less prominent, wider splines in addition to the existing set of splines. It is hypothesized that the additional splines will result in greater cortical contact, thereby improving torsional strength., Methods and Findings: The ultimate torsional strength of an established modular revision stem (Reclaim®, DePuy Synthes) was compared to a Prototype stem design with two sets of splines, differing in prominence by 0.25 mm. Five pairs of fresh-frozen human femurs (n = 10) were harvested and an extended trochanteric osteotomy was performed to obtain common bone defects in revision. Stems were implanted using successive droptower impacts to omit variability caused by mallet blows. The applied energy was increased from 2 J in 1 J increments until the planned implantation depth was reached or seating was less than 0.5 mm at 5 J impact. The ultimate torsional strength of the bone-to-implant interface was determined immediately after implantation. Image superposition was used to analyze and quantify the contact situation between bone and implant within the femoral canal. Cortical contact was larger for the Prototype design with the additional set of splines compared to the Reclaim stem (p = 0.046), associated with a higher torsional stability (35.2 ± 6.0 Nm vs. 28.2 ± 3.5 Nm, p = 0.039)., Conclusions: A second set of splines with reduced prominence could be shown to improve primary stability of a revision stem in the femoral diaphysis in the presence of significant proximal bone loss. The beneficial effect of varying spline size and number has the potential to further improve the longevity of revision hip stems., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: MMM is a paid consultant of DePuy Synthes and obtains research support as a Principal Investigator from Ceramtec, DePuy, and Beiersdorf. He obtains speaker’s fees from Aesculap, Ceramtec, DePuy, Zimmer, Peter Brehm, Corin, and Mathys and is in the editorial board “Trauma und Berufskrankheit.” GH is an associated member of the board of the German Society of Biomechanics., (Copyright: © 2023 Boettcher et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Aseptic loosening is one of the major reasons for re-revisions of cementless revision stems. Insufficient primary stability is associated with bone characteristics and the surgical process. This study aimed to investigate how femur morphology and preparation methods influence the primary stability of revision stems. The Femur morphology was described by the upper femoral curvature (UFC) and an individualized Dorr type classification based on the ratio between the canal-to-calcar ratio (CCR*) and the cortical index (CI*) introduced as the cortical-canal shape (CCS). Manual and powered reaming in combination with helical and straight reamers were used to prepare the bone cavity of 10 cadaveric human femur pairs. Forces during stem impaction were recorded (Reclaim, Depuy Synthes). Micromotion at the bone-implant interface during cyclic axial loading and torsional load to failure was determined. The CCS and impaction forces (R 2  = 0.817, p < 0.001) or torsional strength (R 2  = 0.577, p < 0.001) are inversely related. CCS did not correlate with micromotion during axial loading (R 2  = 0.001, p > 0.999), but proximal femoral curvature did (R 2  = 0.462, p = 0.015). Powered reaming and straight reamers led to an improved torsional strength (both: p = 0.043). The Individualized Dorr classification CCS and UFC allows a good estimation of the primary stability of revision stems. For severely curved Dorr type-C femurs, an alternative anchorage method should be considered clinically., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Background: Instability constitutes the main reason for revision hip arthroplasties. Modified polyethylene liners are designed to improve the stability of a hip replacement. In July 2022 The Bone & Joint Journal published a study with data of the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD). The study investigated mechanical failure of standard and modified liner designs in primary, cementless total hip arthroplasty. Following the study, the EPRD conducted a survey of German clinics to research the utilization of lipped liners in primary total hip replacement., Methods: The liner study included 151,096 primary, elective, cementless total hip arthroplasties. Data from November 2012 to November 2020 were obtained from the EPRD. Standard polyethylene liners were compared with lipped, angulated, offset and angulated/offset inlays. Cumulative incidences for endpoint revision due to mechanical complication were calculated with a competing risk analysis. The influence of other variables was investigated with a multivariate Cox regression. In the following online survey, 237 out of 789 hospitals completed a form., Results and Conclusion: In our analysis, only offset liners were, compared to standard liners, associated with a reduced risk of mechanical failure in a short to medium follow up. However, the resultant joint reaction force is increased with offset liners due to the lateralization of the hip center of rotation. Thus, the long-term performance of offset liners needs to be observed. Our survey indicated that lipped liners were implanted more often if the posterior approach was used. Moreover, lipped liners were mostly positioned with the elevated rim in the biomechanically less optimal posterior-superior quadrant. To improve stability it is suggested to position the elevated rim in the posterior-inferior quadrant., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Insufficient primary stability of acetabular hip cups is a complication resulting in early cup loosening. Available cup designs vary in terms of wall thickness, potentially affecting implant fixation. This study investigated the influence of different wall thicknesses on the implantation process and the resulting primary stability using excised human acetabula. Implantations were performed using a powered impaction device providing consistent energy with each stroke. Two different wall thicknesses were compared in terms of seating progress, polar gap remaining after implantation, bone-to-implant contact area, cup deflection, and lever out moment. Thin-walled cups showed higher lever out resistance (p < 0.001) and smaller polar gaps (p < 0.001) with larger bone contact toward the dome of the cup (p < 0.001) compared to thick-walled cups. Small seating steps at the end of the impaction process were observed if a high number of strokes were needed to seat the cup (p = 0.045). A high number of strokes led to a strain release of the cup during the final strokes (p = 0.003). This strain release is indicative for over-impaction of the cup associated with bone damage and reduced primary stability. Adequate cup seating can be achieved with thin-walled cups with lower energy input in comparison to thicker ones. Thin-walled cups showed improved primary stability and enable implantation with lower energy input, reducing the risk of over-impaction and bone damage. Additional strokes should be avoided as soon as no further seating progress has been observed., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Background: Gross taper failure (GTF) is a rare but catastrophic failure mode of the head-stem-taper junction of hip prostheses, facilitated by massive material loss. GTF is a two stage process initiated by corrosion leading to head bottoming out, followed by abrasive wear due to the head rotating on the stem. The purpose of this study was to reproduce the clinical failure patterns and to determine the material loss during simulated gait., Methods: Six cobalt-chromium alloy heads (36 mm, 12/14 taper) with three different head lengths (short / medium / extra long) were combined with stem taper replicas made from titanium alloy sized to achieve bottoming out. A hip simulator was used to simulate gait loading after (ISO 14242-1 for 2 million cycles)., Results: Wear patterns from in-vitro testing match the clinical failure patterns. Stem taper wear increased linearly with time (p< 0.001). After two million cycles the material loss of short / medium / extra long heads was (M+-STD) 1168±242 mg / 400±23 mg / 94±12 mg on the stem side and 46±36 mg / 46±24 mg / 70±8 mg on the head side. Stem taper wear decreased with increasing head length (p=0.01), whereas clinical failures are mostly seen for long and extra long heads., (Copyright © 2021 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fretting corrosion is one contributor to the clinical failure of modular joint arthroplasty. It is initiated by micromotion in metal junctions exposed to fluids. Omitting metal-on-metal contacts could help to reduce the corrosion risk. The coating of one metal taper partner with a ceramic-based silicon nitride (SiNx) coating might provide this separation. The aim of the study was to identify whether a SiNx coating of the male taper component influences the micromotion within a taper junction. Hip prosthesis heads made of CoCr29Mo6 (Aesculap) and Ti6Al4V (Peter Brehm) were assembled (2000 N) to SiNx-coated and uncoated stem tapers made of Ti6Al4V and CoCr29Mo6 (2×2×2 combinations, each n = 4). Consecutive sinusoidal loading representing three daily activities was applied. Contactless relative motion in six degrees of freedom was measured using six eddy-current sensors. Micromotion in the junction was determined by compensating for the elastic deformation derived from additional monoblock measurements. After pull-off, the taper surfaces were microscopically inspected. Micromotion magnitude reached up to 8.4 ± 0.8 µm during loading that represented stumbling. Ti6Al4V stems showed significantly higher micromotion than those made of CoCr29Mo6, while taper coating had no influence. Statistical differences in pull-off forces were found for none of the taper junctions. Microscopy revealed CoCr29Mo6 abrasion from the head taper surface if combined with coated stem tapers. Higher micromotion of Ti6Al4V tapers was probably caused by the lower Young's modulus. Even in the contact areas, the coating was not damaged during loading. The mechanics of coated tapers was similar to uncoated prostheses. Thus, the separation of the two metal surfaces with the objective to reduce in vivo corrosion appears to be achievable if the coating is able to withstand in vivo conditions. However, the hard ceramic-based stem coating lead to undesirable debris from the CoCr29Mo6 heads during loading.

Deformation of an acetabular cup implant during cementless implantation is indicative of the radial compressive forces, and such of the initial implant fixation strength. Stress relaxation in the surrounding bone tissue following implantation could reduce the deformation of the cup and thus primary implant fixation. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the early shape change of the implanted cup immediately after implantation with different press-fit levels and whether recording the force during cup impaction can be used to estimate initial cup fixation. Cup implantations into porcine acetabulae (n=10) were performed using a drop tower. The force induced by the drop weight and cup seating after each impact was recorded. Deformation of the implanted cup was determined with strain gauges over a period of 10min. Lever-out torques were measured to assess the initial fixation strength. Stress relaxation in the bone caused a reduction in cup deformation of 13.52±4.06% after 1min and 29.34±5.11% after 10min. The fixation strength increased with a higher force magnitude during impaction (R s 2 =0.810, p=0.037). Reduction of the radial compressive forces due to stress relaxation of the surrounding bone should be considered during press-fit cup implantation in order to compensate for the reduced fixation strength over time. In addition, recording the implantation force could help to estimate initial fixation strength., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest Michael Morlock is a consultant to DePuy Synthes and serves on speaker bureaus for B Braun Aesculap, AORecon, Ceramtec, Corin, Lima, Mathys, Peter Brehm, DePuySynthes, Zimmer-Biomet., (Copyright © 2020 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Case: We report a case of gross taper failure (GTF) in a very active 81-year-old man 14 years after index operation. The patient presented with acute hip pain and shortening of the left leg. X-rays showed the dissociation of the head. The stem had to be revised because of the massive stem taper damage., Conclusion: This case demonstrates that GTF at the head-stem taper junction following mechanically assisted crevice corrosion is not limited to a specific taper design and material. Other risk factors such as high activity level can lead to this failure pattern also in established stem and taper designs.

Implant failure due to fretting-corrosion of head-neck modular junctions is a rising problem in total hip arthroplasty. Fretting-corrosion initiates when micromotion leads to metal release; however, factors leading to micromotion, such as microgrooves on the stem taper, are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to describe a finite element analysis technique to determine head-neck contact mechanics and investigate the effect of stem taper microgroove height during head-neck assembly. Two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element models were created. Models were created for a ceramic femoral head and a CoCrMo femoral head against Ti6Al4V stem tapers and compared to available data from prior experiments. Stem taper microgroove height was investigated with a generic 12/14 model. Head-neck assembly was performed to four maximum loads (500 N, 2000 N, 4000 N, 8000 N). For the stem taper coupled with the ceramic head, the number of microgrooves in contact and plastically deformed differed by 2.5 microgrooves (4%) and 6.5 microgrooves (11%), respectively, between the finite element models and experiment. For the stem taper coupled with the CoCrMo head, all microgrooves were in contact after all assembly loads in the finite element model due to an almost identical conical angle between the taper surfaces. In the experiments, all grooves were only in contact for the 8000 N assembly load. Contact area, plastic (permanent) deformation, and contact pressure increased with increasing assembly loads and deeper microgrooves. The described modeling technique can be used to investigate the relationship between implant design factors, allowing for optimal microgroove design within material couples., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Statement The authors have no conflicts to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Removing a head during isolated acetabular revision surgery can cause damage to the stem taper surface from extraction tool contact. Implanting a ceramic head on the damaged stem taper might elevate the fracture risk, which can be mitigated with the use of titanium adapter sleeves. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the improved fracture strength of modern generation ceramic heads allows the direct implantation on damaged stem tapers without an adapter sleeve., Methods: Finite element models of taper junctions with and without adapter sleeve were generated. Different stem taper damages were modelled to investigate the influence on the ceramic head fracture load under axial compression., Findings: Heads without adapter sleeves exhibited slightly higher or equal fracture strengths compared with sleeved heads for most scenarios. However, a small metal elevation on the stem taper caused a drastic decrease of the fracture strength if no adapter sleeve was used (-96%). The sleeved head was not influenced by the metal elevation damage., Interpretation: Adapter sleeves are essential to ensure patient safety and prosthesis longevity whenever implanting ceramic heads on used stem tapers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Adrian Falkenberg: no disclosures. Emilie C. Dickinson: no disclosures. Michael M. Morlock serves as the speaker bureau for CeramTec GmbH (Plochingen, Germany), and other medical implant companies. This service does not interfere with this study., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Deformation of acetabular cups when press-fitted into an undersized cavity is inevitable due to the inhomogeneous stiffness of acetabular bone. Thinner cups or screw holes might increase the risk of high cup deformation. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of cup design and liner assembly on the deformation response during cup implantation., Methods: Acetabular cups with different designs were implanted into polyurethane foam models simulating the anatomical situation with nominal press-fits of 1mm and without nominal press-fits (line-to-line). Deformations were determined using a tactile coordinate measuring machine. A 3D laser scanner was used to determine the contact conditions at the cup-cavity interface. Polyethylene and ceramic liners were assembled to the implanted cups and the influence of the insertion on the deformation response evaluated. Fixation strength of the cups was determined by push-out testing., Findings: Cup deformation increased with smaller wall thickness (P < 0.037) and screw holes (P < 0.001). Insertion of ceramic liners reduced the deformation (P < 0.001), whereas polyethylene liners adapted to the deformation of the implanted cups (P > 0.999). Thin-walled cups exhibited a higher fixation strength for similar implantation forces (P = 0.011)., Interpretation: Thin-walled cups achieved higher fixation strengths and might be more bone-preserving. However, in combination with screw holes and high press-fit levels, wall thickness should be considered carefully to avoid excessive cup deformations leading to potential complications during liner assembly. Line-to-line insertion of thin-walled cups should be accompanied with a rough surface coating to minimize the loss of fixation strength due to the low press-fit fixation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Implant loosening and periprosthetic fracture are two major revision causes for uncemented hip stems. The chosen method of cavity preparation could play a key role for both failure mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the dependence of the broach type as well as patient bone mineral density (BMD) on densification and contact conditions at the bone-implant interface. Hip stems were implanted into cadaveric femora using compaction, blunt extraction or sharp extraction broaches with computed tomography scans performed prior to broaching, after broaching and after stem implantation. Proximal periprosthetic bone densification as well as press-fit, contact area and stem seating relative to the last broach were determined. Median bone densification was higher with the compaction and blunt extraction broaches compared to sharp extraction broaches (181% and 177%, respectively, p = 0.002). The bone densification of femora prepared with compaction broaching increased with higher BMD (R 2  = 0.183, p = 0.037), while stem seating decreased with higher BMD for all broach types (R 2  = 0.259, p = 0.001). Incomplete seated prostheses were associated with smaller press-fit and bone-implant contact area (R 2  = 0.249, p = 0.001; R 2  = 0.287, p < 0.001). Clinical Significance: The results suggest that compaction broaching maximizes bone densification in patients with higher bone density. However, there appears to be an increased risk of insufficient stem seating in high-density bone that could limit the benefits for primary stability. For lower quality bone, the broach type appears to play a lesser role, but care must be taken to limit extensive stem seating which might increase periprosthetic fracture risk. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1580-1589, 2019., (© 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the 90-day risk of revision for periprosthetic femoral fracture associated with design features of cementless femoral stems, and to investigate the effect of a collar on this risk using a biomechanical in vitro model., Materials and Methods: A total of 337 647 primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) from the United Kingdom National Joint Registry (NJR) were included in a multivariable survival and regression analysis to identify the adjusted hazard of revision for periprosthetic fracture following primary THA using a cementless stem. The effect of a collar in cementless THA on this risk was evaluated in an in vitro model using paired fresh frozen cadaveric femora., Results: The prevalence of early revision for periprosthetic fracture was 0.34% (1180/337 647) and 44.0% (520/1180) occurred within 90 days of surgery. Implant risk factors included: collarless stem, non-grit-blasted finish, and triple-tapered design. In the in vitro model, a medial calcar collar consistently improved the stability and resistance to fracture., Conclusion: Analysis of features of stem design in registry data is a useful method of identifying implant characteristics that affect the risk of early periprosthetic fracture around a cementless femoral stem. A collar on the calcar reduced the risk of an early periprosthetic fracture and this was confirmed by biomechanical testing. This approach may be useful in the analysis of other uncommon modes of failure after THA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:779-786.

Background: Using a new ceramic head with a titanium adapter sleeve offers the possibility of maintaining a well fixed stem when conducting cup revision of a total hip arthroplasty. The aim of this study is to test the impact of stem taper damage on the fracture strength of sleeved ceramic heads., Methods: Pristine zirconia-toughened alumina heads with titanium adapter sleeves (BIOLOX®OPTION System) were tested on damaged Ti-4Al-6V stem tapers in accordance with ISO7206-10. Four distinctive damage types classified as intolerable by the manufacture were investigated, representing various reductions in contact area between the stem taper and sleeve taper as well as damage incurred from previous ceramic head fracture., Findings: The largest reduction in fracture strength occurred for a loss of contact for the entire length of the stem taper. Nonetheless, the fracture strength in all investigated cases was several times higher than that defined by the FDA standards., Interpretation: The use of a titanium sleeve recreates a uniform contact situation between the ceramic head and the outer sleeve taper in situations of damaged stem tapers. For the investigated damage types a high fracture strength of the ceramic head was maintained. This study supports the clinical use for sleeved ceramic heads in instances of greater damages of stem tapers than previously defined in order to spare patients from stem removal., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Taper corrosion in total hip arthroplasty for bearings with metal heads against polyethylene has developed from an anecdotal observation to a clinical problem. Increased taper wear and even gross taper failure have been reported for one particular design. It is hypothesized that corrosion of the female head taper results in taper widening, allowing the cobalt-chromium head to turn on the stem and wear down the softer titanium alloy by abrasive wear, ultimately causing failure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the time course of this process and the general role of taper dimensions and material in this problem., Methods: Retrieved cobalt-chromium alloy heads (n = 30, LFIT; Stryker, Mahwah, NJ) and Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe (TMZF) stems (n = 10, Accolade I; Stryker) were available for analysis. Taper material loss was determined using three-dimensional coordinate measurements and scanning. The pristine tip clearance between head and stem was analytically determined. The influence of taper material and taper size on taper deformation and micromotion was investigated using a finite element model., Results: Material loss at the head taper increased with time in situ up to a volume of 20.8 mm 3 (P < .001). A mean linear material loss above 76 μm at the head taper was analytically confirmed to result in bottoming out, which was observed in 12 heads. The finite element calculations showed significantly larger deformations and micromotions for a small 11/13 TMZF taper combined with a distinctly different micromotion pattern compared to other materials and taper designs., Conclusion: A 11/13 TMZF taper design with 36-mm head diameters bears a higher risk for corrosion than larger tapers made from stiffer materials. Failures of this combination are not restricted to the head sizes included in the recall. Patients with this implant combination should be closely monitored., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intraoperative interface contamination of modular head-stem taper junctions of hip implants can lead to poor fixation strength, causing fretting and crevice corrosion or even stem taper fracture. Careful cleaning before assembly should help to reduce these problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cleaning (with and without drying) contaminated taper interfaces on the taper fixation strength., Methods: Metal or ceramic heads were impacted onto titanium alloy stem tapers with cleaned or contaminated (fat or saline solution) interfaces. The same procedure was performed after cleaning and drying the contaminated interfaces. Pull-off force was used to determine the influence of contamination and cleaning on the taper strength., Results: Pull-off forces after contamination with fat were significantly lower than those for uncontaminated interfaces for both head materials. Pull-off forces after application of saline solution were not significantly different from those for uncontaminated tapers. However, a large variation in taper strength was observed, pull-off forces for cleaned and dried tapers were similar to those for uncontaminated tapers for both head materials., Conclusion: Intraoperative contamination of taper interfaces may be difficult to detect but has a major influence on taper fixation strength. Cleaning of the stem taper with saline solution and drying with gauze directly before assembly allows the taper strength of the pristine components to be achieved. Not drying the taper results in a large variation in pull-off forces, emphasizing that drying is essential for sufficient and reproducible fixation strength., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The strength of the modular fixation between head and stem taper of total hip replacement implants should be sufficient to minimise relative motion and prevent corrosion at the interface. Intraoperatively the components are assembled by impaction with a hammer. It is unclear whether the effective compliance of the patient's body modifies the strength of the taper interface under impaction assembly. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the compliance of the patient's body on the taper fixation strength., Methods: Cobalt-chrome and ceramic femoral heads were assembled with titanium alloy stem tapers in the laboratory under impaction. Impaction forces were applied with a constant energy, defined by the drop height of the impactor, according to standard experimental procedure. The compliance of the patient was simulated in the laboratory by varying the stiffness of springs mounted below the stem taper. Pull-off forces between head and neck were measured to determine fixation strength., Findings: Decreasing spring stiffness had no effect on the applied peak impaction forces during assembly or on the pull-off forces. Pull-off forces showed no difference between metal and ceramic head materials., Interpretation: Pull-off forces and impaction forces were independent of the spring stiffness below the stem taper, indicating that the compliance of the patient has no effect on the taper fixation strength. Impaction testing in the laboratory can therefore be performed under rigid fixation, without accounting for the compliance of the patient., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Modular total hip prostheses with ceramic heads are well established in orthopedic surgery and widely used. With the variety of different manufacturers and available designs, components are at risk for mismatch. Several case studies show the potentially devastating effects of mismatch., Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of one arbitrary component mismatch with commercially available components that appear to provide a stable fixation during assembly. A biomechanical in-vitro analysis of fracture strength (n=5) was carried out in accordance with ISO 7206-10. "Type1" Bi-Metric®-stems were mismatched with "V40" Al 2 O 3 ceramic heads., Findings: Mean fracture strength was reduced to about 50% of the recommended FDA minimum by the mismatch (Mean 23.68kN, SD 2.35kN). A small contact area between head and stem taper was identified as a potential key parameter., Interpretation: Mixing and matching components can put a patient at greater risk for ceramic head fracture and must be avoided., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The number of patients having hip and knee arthroplasties on the ipsilateral leg is going to rise. In this regard, the prevalence of interprosthetic femoral fractures is going to increase further. The treatment of these fractures is difficult and sometimes it is impossible to perform an osteosynthesis because of worse bone quality. The goal of this study was to investigate the use of an interposition sleeve as an alternative treatment option for interprosthetic fractures with major bone loss., Methods: Six human cadaveric femurs were instrumented using cemented hip- and knee prosthesis. Interprosthetic fractures were induced during a four-point-bending test and then treated using the interposition sleeve. Afterwards the constructs were tested using the four-point-bending test again., Results: Load-to-failure of the construct before fracturing was significantly higher than after treatment with the interposition sleeve (10681 N vs. 5083 N; p = 0.002). The failure mechanism of the femurs with the interposition sleeve was plastic deformation of the hip or knee prosthesis. The interposition sleeve did not fail in any specimen., Conclusion: The interposition sleeve is a valuable treatment option for interprosthetic fractures in situations in which osteosynthesis is impossible or insecure due to major bone defects. However, fracture healing should be preferred whenever possible.

Corrosion of modular taper junctions of hip implants may be associated with clinical failure. Taper design parameters, as well as the intraoperatively applied assembly forces, have been proposed to affect corrosion. Fretting corrosion is related to relative interface shear motion and fluid ingress, which may vary with contact force and area. It was hypothesised in this study that assembly forces modify the extent and distribution of the surface contact area at the taper interface between a cobalt chrome head and titanium stem taper with a standard threaded surface profile. Local abrasion of a thin gold coating applied to the stem taper prior to assembly was used to determine the contact area after disassembly. Profilometry was then used to assess permanent deformation of the stem taper surface profile. With increasing assembly force (500 N, 2000 N, 4000 N and 8000 N) the number of stem taper surface profile ridges in contact with the head taper was found to increase (9.2±9.3%, 65.4±10.8%, 92.8±6.0% and 100%) and the overall taper area in contact was also found to increase (0.6±0.7%, 5.5±1.0%, 9.9±1.1% and 16.1±0.9%). Contact was inconsistently distributed over the length of the taper. An increase in plastic radial deformation of the surface ridges (-0.05±0.14 μm, 0.1±0.14 μm, 0.21±0.22 μm and 0.96±0.25 μm) was also observed with increasing assembly force. The limited contact of the taper surface ridges at lower assembly forces may influence corrosion rates, suggesting that the magnitude of the assembly force may affect clinical outcome. The method presented provides a simple and practical assessment of the contact area at the taper interface.

Corrosion of metallic implants in contact with body fluids is unavoidable, especially at interfaces where movement occurs or in gaps. Corrosion became clinically relevant with the introduction of large modular metal-on-metal total hip joint articulations (MoM THA) early in the 21st century. This review attempts to summarise the scientific knowledge about taper problems available at the time of introduction of these bearings, why this "disaster" could happen. It is speculated that changes to the taper connection made in the 1990s to increase the range of motion with small heads (28 and 32 mm) reduced the mechanical strength of this connection, which did not matter for small heads. With the use of large and very large metal heads in MoM articulations, which have a larger lever arm and can generate high friction in unfavourable situations, suddenly the taper interface exhibited corrosion problems on a previously unknown scale. It is speculated that due to the higher mechanical loading with larger heads, the taper connection became less forgiving with respect to assembly conditions, contamination, manufacturing tolerances and other factors, which are yet not known. Since no major clinical problems had been reported before the introduction of these bearings and the pre-clinical testing was very successful, the disaster took its course. The patient-implant-surgeon system is a very complex intrinsically hazardous system. Pre-clinical testing addresses few and defined factors and such, good results cannot be directly transferred to the clinical reality. A controlled stepwise introduction of innovations is required.

Recent problems with large head metal on metal hip replacements have spiked renewed interest in the head-neck junction. A thorough knowledge of the principles of the locking mechanism, the assembly technique and affecting factors on the strength of this junction is needed. Currently a confusing variability in terms is used to describe this junction. This overcomplicates an already complex issue. The purpose of this literature review is to collect and list the different terms used and to propose a uniform terminology. Two authors independently searched the electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL and MEDLINE with specific key words and combinations according to the PRISMA guidelines. The initial search yielded a total of 518 articles with ultimately 53 articles included in the present analysis. No consensus for a uniform term for the 2 sides of the head-stem junction was found. Since there is already pronounced variability in taper designs between different manufacturers (even so similarly named, e.g. "12/14"), a uniform terminology could be the first step to simplify the situation. "Male" and "female taper" is proposed as the appropriate terminology for the stem and head junction in hip replacement, respectively. The importance of the assembly technique understanding the principles of the locking mechanism is emphasised.

Third-generation composite ceramics (eg, Delta; DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, Indiana; Ceramtec, Plochingen, Germany) have greatly improved material characteristics compared with second-generation products. This case report presents a patient after total hip arthroplasty with a fractured ceramic liner and a heavily worn ceramic head (both third-generation ceramics) retrieved 9 months after surgery. The patient showed no symptoms in the involved hip but presented to the hospital because of other symptoms. The failure was caused by a tilted liner that was overlooked after surgery and fractured consecutively. Rim chipping and splitting were the 2 fracture modes observed for the liner. The head did not fracture completely because of its high strength but became roughened by the ceramic fragments, causing major wear of the metal back of the cup. The phase transformation of the zirconium grains from tetragonal to monoclinic in the aluminum oxide matrix was shown by radiographic diffraction analysis in the heavily worn areas of the head. This transformation increases the fracture strength of the head. Metal debris caused by a roughened ceramic head without fracture is an unreported phenomenon for third-generation ceramic bearings in hip arthroplasty. This case shows that proper impaction of the ceramic liner into the metal shell to prevent later tiling during reduction is as important as correct component positioning. If a tilted ceramic liner is observed postoperatively, the position must be corrected immediately to prevent the major consequences observed in this patient., (Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.)

Ceramic-on-ceramic hip joints have been reported to squeak, a phenomenon that may occur in compromised lubrication conditions. One factor related to the incidence of in vivo squeaking is the stem design. However, it has not yet been possible to relate stem design to squeaking in deteriorating lubrication conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine critical friction factors for different stem designs. A hip simulator was used to measure the friction factor of a ceramic bearing with different stem designs and gradually deteriorating lubrication represented by evaporation of a volatile fluid lubricant. The critical squeaking friction factor was measured at the onset of squeaking for each stem. Critical friction was higher for the long cobalt chrome (0.32 ± 0.02) and short titanium stems (0.39 ± 0.02) in comparison with a long titanium stem (0.29 ± 0.02). The onset of squeaking occurred at a friction factor lower than that measured for dry conditions, in which squeaking is usually investigated experimentally. The results suggest that shorter or heavier stems might limit the possibility of squeaking as lubrication deteriorates. The method developed can be used to investigate the influence of design parameters on squeaking probability., (Copyright © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Background: Tissue responses to periprosthetic metal wear debris are complex and poorly understood. There are two predominant tissue responses: a nonspecific macrophage-mediated granulomatous response and lymphocyte-dominated response, which has immunological memory and is mediated by T cells. Delayed hypersensitivity-type responses may accelerate aseptic loosening of arthroplasty implants. We hypothesized that the metal content of periprosthetic tissue but not of serum would be predictive of the type of tissue response to metal wear debris., Methods: We examined twenty-eight total hip arthroplasty implant retrievals from twenty-seven patients who had undergone revision arthroplasty at one institution. Indications for revision were pain and/or osteolysis; one patient had recurrent dislocations. Tissue samples were analyzed microscopically and the metal (Co, Cr, and Ni) content was determined. Explanted prosthetic components were examined for linear wear. Intraoperatively, periprosthetic metallosis was observed in twelve cases and formation of a bursa (pseudotumor) was observed in thirteen. The acetabular cup was loose in eleven cases, the femoral stem was loose in five, and both components were loose in five., Results: The metal (Co, Cr, and Ni) content of the periprosthetic tissue ranged from 1.4 to 4604.0 μg/g. Histologically, macrophages containing metal particles as well as diffuse and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration were observed. Fibrin exudation was also visible. Tissues that displayed a predominantly lymphocytic response had a mean metal content of 222.2 ± 52.9 μg/g, whereas those that displayed a macrophage-dominated response had a metal content of 3.0 ± 0.9 μg/g; this difference was significant (p = 0.001). The mean serum metal content did not differ significantly between the two subgroups (60.7 ± 13.4 compared with 43.7 ± 3.8 μg/L, p = 0.105)., Conclusions: An association between periprosthetic tissue metal content and hypersensitivity appears likely but needs to be validated with larger-scale retrieval studies., Clinical Relevance: This study contributes to the understanding of tissue responses to metal wear debris after joint replacement and the factors that are predictive of a type-IV lymphocyte-dominated hypersensitivity reaction.

The stem-neck taper interface of bimodular hip endoprostheses bears the risk of micromotions that can result in ongoing corrosion due to removal of the passive layer and ultimately cause implant fracture. We investigated the extent of micromotions at the stem-neck interface and the seating behavior of necks of one design made from different alloys during daily activities. Modular hip prostheses (n = 36, Metha®, Aesculap AG, Germany) with neck adapters (CoCr29Mo6 or Ti6Al4V) were embedded in PMMA (ISO 7206-4) and exposed to cyclic loading with peak loads ranging from walking (Fmax  = 2.3 kN) to stumbling (Fmax  = 5.3 kN). Translational and rotational micromotions at the taper interface and seating characteristics during assembly and loading were determined using four eddy-current sensors. Seating during loading after implant assembly was dependent on load magnitude but not on material coupling. Micromotions in the stem-neck interface correlated positively with load levels (CoCr: 2.6-6.3 µm, Ti: 4.6-13.8 µm; p < 0.001) with Ti neck adapters exhibiting significantly larger micromotions than CoCr (p < 0.001). These findings explain why high body weights and activities related to higher loads could increase the risk of fretting-induced implant failures in clinical application, especially for Ti-Ti combinations. Still, the role of taper seating is not clearly understood., (Copyright © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Disappointing clinical results for large diameter metal replacement bearings for the hip are related to compromised lubrication due to poor cup placement, which increases wear as well as friction moments. The latter can cause overload of the implant-bone interfaces and the taper junction between head and stem. We investigated the influence of lubrication conditions on friction moments in modern hip bearings. Friction moments for large diameter metal and ceramic bearings were measured in a hip simulator with cup angles varying from 0° to 60°. Two diameters were tested for each bearing material, and measurements were made in serum and in dry conditions, representing severely compromised lubrication. Moments were lower for the ceramic bearings than for the metal bearings in lubricated conditions, but approached those for metal bearings at high cup inclination. In dry conditions, friction moments increased twofold to 12 Nm for metal bearings. For ceramic bearings, the increase was more than fivefold to over 25 Nm. Although large diameter ceramic bearings demonstrate an improvement in friction characteristics in the lubricated condition, they could potentially replicate problems currently experienced due to high friction moments in metal bearings once lubrication is compromised., (Copyright © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Purpose: The use of inappropriate cementation techniques has been suggested as an adverse factor for the long-term survival of hip-resurfacing arthroplasty. Inadequate initial fixation, thermal osteonecrosis and interface biological reactions are possible causes of failure. We analysed morphological changes associated with the cementation technique in a large collection of retrieved femoral components., Methods: One hundred and fifty femoral components (mean time to failure of 8.3 months±11.0) obtained at revision surgery were analysed morphometrically and histopathologically. Cement mantle and penetration were quantified in six different regions of interest. Histopathological analysis of the bone-cement interface was performed on undecalcified processed bone tissue., Results: The vast majority of the cases differed substantially from laboratory-based cement-penetration depth recommendations. Fifty-nine cases had a fibrous membrane at the cement-bone interface. This membrane was significantly thicker in cases with osteonecrosis compared to cases viable bone., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that most failures were cemented inappropriately. We suggest that poor cementation was an important adverse factor; however, the cause of the failures was obviously multifactorial. The thickness of the fibrous membrane at the cement-bone interface differed significantly between cases with osteonecrosis and specimens with viable bone tissue.

Retrieved hip resurfacing arthroplasties (HRA) revised for causes other than osteonecrosis enable further insights into bone-cement interactions within the interface with only minimal biomechanical stresses. Our primary objective was to investigate the mineralization changes at the trabecular bone interface in retrieved hips using bright field and polarized light microscopy and by quantitative backscattered electron imaging. Because superficial seams of non-mineralized bone tissue varied substantially, we defined hyperosteoidosis as an osteoid seam of more than 20 µm thickness. We hypothesized that interface hyperosteoidosis might be caused by the demineralization of previously mineralized bone tissue. One hundred and thirty-one retrieved HRAs with viable bone remnant tissue were analyzed. Bone mineral density distribution obtained from backscattered signal intensities of the trabecular bone at the bone-cement interface was assessed in cases with and without interface hyperosteoidosis. In cases with interface hyperosteoidosis, the degree of trabecular mineralization was also analyzed in deeper areas of the femoral remnants. Thirty-four cases showed hyperosteoidosis at the bone-cement interface, mostly in female patients. Bone trabeculae with hyperosteoidosis displayed a mineral density distribution pattern suggestive of the demineralization of a previously mineralized bone matrix. Our results demonstrate the localized disorder of the mineralization pattern of bone trabeculae at the bone-cement interface in a group of retrieved HRAs. In previously well-fixed femoral components, potential adverse effects on the load-bearing bone due to a decreased degree of mineralization at the bone-cement interface may affect the durability of the implant's function., (Copyright © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Squeaking is reported for ceramic-on-ceramic hip arthroplasty, and risk factors leading to this phenomenon have been investigated empirically in the past, this way giving hints to when this phenomenon occurs. The aim of this study is to present an experimentally validated explanation for the dynamical mechanism underlying the squeak, i.e. a description of what happens when noise is generated. First the kinematics of the ceramic bearing couple in relative motion are reconsidered. The relative motion at the contact zone can be understood as superposition of relative rotation and translation. The relative weight of both components depends substantially on the instantaneous load vector, which primarily determines the position of the contact area, and the instantaneous relative rotation vector. For the investigated gait scenarios, both load vector and rotation axis vary strongly during the gait cycle. Second, experimental vibration analysis during squeak is performed. A pronounced micrometer scale elliptical motion of the ball inside the liner is found. It is shown that the rotational component of the relative kinematics during gait indeed leads to friction induced vibrations. We show that a generic whirl type friction induced flutter instability, also known from similar (non bio-) mechanical systems, is the root cause of the emitted squeaking noise. Based on the identified mechanism, the role of THA system parameters (materials, design), patient risk factors, as well as the role of the gait cycle, will have to be reconsidered and linked in the future to develop effective measures against squeaking., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Replacement of the hip joint has become an exceptionally successful procedure since the inauguration of the low friction principle by Charnley. Aseptic osteolysis and joint dislocation have been addressed by the development of wear-optimized materials and the introduction of larger heads. As an increase in head diameter against polyethylene causes wear increase, larger hard-on-hard bearings were introduced, which exhibit reduced wear and reduced dislocation risk with increasing head diameter. These findings were derived from standard simulator testing, not sufficiently considering the risk of fluid film breakdown under adverse conditions, which can cause a dramatic increase in wear and friction proportional to the head diameter. Such adverse conditions can occur clinically in patients due to several factors and have caused the presently observed unexpected problems with these new designs. Standardized preclinical testing has to be viewed as a minimum requirement but certainly not as a guarantee for the clinical success of new materials and designs even if the testing is adapted to the current patient requirements, which is presently not the case. The future of tribology lies in the prevention of adverse conditions in patients, the improvement and optimized use of proven existing materials and not in the use of new materials.

Background: Metal-on-metal hybrid hip resurfacing arthroplasty (with a cementless acetabular component and a cemented femoral component) is offered as an alternative to traditional total hip arthroplasty for the young and active adult with advanced osteoarthritis. Although it has been suggested that women are less appropriate candidates for metal-on-metal arthroplasty, the mechanisms of prosthesis failure has not been fully explained. While specific failure patterns, particularly osteonecrosis and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions have been suggested to be specifically linked to the sex of the patient, we wished to examine the potential influence of sex, clinical diagnosis, age of the patient and the size of the femoral component on morphological failure patterns in a large cohort of retrieved specimens following aseptic failure of hip resurfacing arthroplasty., Methods: Femoral remnants retrieved from 173 hips with known patient's sex were morphologically analyzed for the cause of failure. The results were compared with the control group of the remaining 31 failures from patients of unknown sex. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the following morphologically defined variables were calculated using logistic regression analysis: periprosthetic fractures (n=133), osteonecrosis (n=151), the presence of excessive intraosseous lymphocyte infiltration (n=11), and interface hyperosteoidosis (n=30). Logistic regression analysis was performed both unadjusted and after adjustment for sex, age, the size of the femoral component, and preoperative clinical diagnosis., Results: Femoral remnants from female patients had a smaller OR for fracture (adjusted OR: 0.29, 95% CI 0.11, 0.80, P for difference=0.02) and for the presence of osteonecrosis (adjusted OR: 0.16, 95% CI 0.04, 0.63, P for difference=0.01). However, women had a higher OR for both the presence of excessive intraosseous lymphocyte infiltration (adjusted OR: 10.22, 95% CI 0.79, 132.57, P for difference=0.08) and interface hyperosteoidosis (adjusted OR: 4.19, 95% CI 1.14, 15.38, P for difference=0.03)., Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, we demonstrated substantial sex differences in distinct failure patterns of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing. Recognition of pathogenically distinct failure modes will enable further stratification of risk factors for certain failure mechanisms and thus affect future therapeutic options for selected patient groups.

Introduction: Failures involving the femoral part in hip resurfacing remain problematic in terms of overall implant survival. In this context, effects of impaction strength on cement mantle morphology and trabecular bone damage have not been studied to date., Materials and Methods: Sixteen paired cadaveric femora that had undergone hard and gently impacted hip resurfacing using a manual packing cementing technique in a previous study, were evaluated morphologically. The earlier study had revealed lower failure loads for hard impacted heads. A central slice of each femoral head underwent microradiography., Results: Overall cement mantle thickness averaged 2.0 mm (range 0-5 mm) in the hard and in the low impact group with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.299). No signs of damage in the bone remnants inside the prosthesis of the fractured proximal femurs were detected in the microradiographic analysis., Conclusion: Cement mantle thickness was not influenced by impaction strength when using a manual packing cementing technique. No trabecular damage underneath the implant was detected despite lower failure loads, confirming the difficulty to identify small trabecular damage in an in vitro study.

Eight pairs of fresh frozen human femora were prepared for hip resurfacing. One side of each pair was impacted gently, the other side vigorously. After implantation procedure, specimens were loaded in a material testing machine to the ultimate fracture load. Median impaction loads on the vigorously implanted side were 11,298N compared to 1374N on the gently implanted side. Failure loads in the high-impact group (median, 8873N) were significantly (P = .0078) reduced when compared with the low-impact group (median, 9237N). The study stresses that meticulous reaming of the femoral head and the pinhole is of tremendous importance. Remaining obstacles can lead to excessive loads, while attempting to enforce the correct seating of the implant. Only careful, slight tapping should be applied to ensure final seating., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Since the introduction of modern hip resurfacing systems, there has been a controversy regarding the fixation of the centering pin in the femoral component. It has been suggested that cementing the pin may increase strength of the femoral neck. This in-vitro analysis investigated the influence of a cemented, femoral pin on resistance to fracture in the resurfaced hip., Methods: Five pairs of cadaveric, fresh-frozen femora underwent hip resurfacing (ASR™) using a high viscosity cementing technique. In one side of each pair only the inner surface of the implant was cemented, in the other side, cement was additionally hand-pressurized down the pinhole prior to implantation of the femoral component. Specimen were then mounted on a material testing machine and cyclic loading with increasing load steps was applied until fracture of the femoral neck., Findings: Fracture load was increased (P = 0.013) in the cemented pin group (Median = 4200 N) when compared with the cementless pin group (Median = 2800 N). The number of cycles to failure in the group with the cemented pin (Median = 8072) was likewise higher (P = 0.01) when compared to the group, in which the pin was not cemented (Median = 5906)., Interpretation: Cementing the pin may provide additional fixation in hips with low bone mineral density or osteonecrotic lesions, as resistance to fracture could be improved in the presented in-vitro scenario. Although this was shown for a specific hip resurfacing system, this effect might be extrapolated to other, similar implant designs., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Before the re-introduction of the current generation of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty, component loosening and osteolysis were of great concern to the orthopaedic community. Early, mid- and long-term clinical results are encouraging, but component loosening still exists., Materials and Methods: Macroscopic, contact radiographic and histopathological analyses after undecalcified preparation of bone tissue specimens were performed. To investigate the frequency and morphological patterns of the loosening of the femoral component, we analysed a series of 190 retrieved femoral remnants that were revised for aseptic failures., Results: Thirty-five (18.4%) hips were revised for clinical and/or radiographic loosening of the femoral component. Pseudoarthrosis (n = 17; median in situ time: 16 weeks, interquartile range [IQR]: 9 to 34), collapsed osteonecrosis (n = 5; median in situ time: 79 weeks, IQR: 63 to 97), cement-socket debonding (n = 3; median in situ time: 89 weeks, IQR: 54 to 97) and at later follow-up bone-cement loosening (n = 10; median in situ time: 175 weeks; IQR 112 to 198; p =0.005) were distinct patterns of the femoral remnant-implant loosening. Fibrocartilaginous metaplasia of interface bone trabeculae (n = 38; median in situ time: 61 weeks, IQR: 32 to 138) was strongly associated with femoral component loosening (p = 0.009). Both the trabecular hyperosteoidosis (n = 32; median in situ time: 71 weeks, IQR 50 to 129) and excessive intraosseous lymphocyte infiltration (n = 12; median in situ time: 75 weeks, IQR 51 to 98) at the bone-cement interface correlated strongly with fibrocartilaginous metaplasia (p = 0.001 and p = 0.016 respectively) and all three lesions were associated with the female gender (p = 0.021, p = 0.009, and p = 0.051)., Conclusion: Femoral component loosening at early follow-up was mostly caused by pathological changes of the femoral remnant bone tissue: pseudoarthrosis and collapsed osteonecrosis. Fibrocartilaginous metaplasia was frequently observed in hips with femoral component loosening. The potential role of interface hyperosteoidosis as a precursor lesion of bone-cement loosening and its possible association with delayed type hypersensitivity reaction are discussed.

Osteonecrosis (ON) has been reported in femoral remnants removed after failure of hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Experimental and clinical studies have further described thermal effects of the cementation technique, damage of extraosseous blood vessels, and intraoperative hypoxemia as possible causative factors. We analyzed histologically a series of 123 retrieved specimens with a preoperative diagnosis other than ON to investigate the incidence and extent of advanced ON. ON was found in 88% of cases and associated with 60% (51 of a total of 85) of periprosthetic fractures. The fracture incidence correlated with the extent of ON. Collapse of necrotic tissue in three (2%) cases resulted in disconnection of the bone stock-femoral component. We observed smaller regions of superficial ON in the majority of the remaining femoral remnants with periprosthetic fractures and in hips that failed for reasons other than fracture.

Background: Periprosthetic fractures have long been recognized as one of the major complications of hip resurfacing arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic and morphologic classification of the fracture mode based on pathogenesis., Methods: One hundred and seven retrieved specimens consisting of the femoral remnant and the femoral component of a total hip resurfacing arthroplasty that had failed as a result of a periprosthetic fracture were analyzed with regard to the morphologic failure mode. The location of the fracture line was used to differentiate the fractures. The fractures were also classified histopathologically as acute biomechanical, acute postnecrotic, or chronic biomechanical., Results: Fifty-nine percent (sixty-three) of the fractures occurred within the bone inside the femoral component. Fifty-one percent (fifty-five) of the fractures were classified morphologically as acute postnecrotic; 40% (forty-three), as chronic biomechanical; and 8% (nine), as acute biomechanical. Acute biomechanical fractures were found exclusively in the femoral neck and occurred earlier (mean time [and standard deviation] between implantation and revision, 41 +/- 57 days) than acute postnecrotic fractures (mean time between implantation and revision, 149 +/- 168 days; p = 0.002) or chronic biomechanical fractures (mean time between implantation and revision, 179 +/- 165 days; p = 0.001). The latter two fracture types both occurred predominantly in the bone inside the femoral component., Conclusions: Three distinct fracture modes were characterized morphologically. Osteonecrosis was the most frequent cause of fracture-related failures. We suggest that an intraoperative mechanical injury of the femoral neck such as notching and/or malpositioning of the femoral component might lead to changes in the loading pattern or in the resistance to fracture of the femoral neck and may result in both acute and chronic biomechanical femoral neck fractures. These findings may serve as feedback information for the surgeon and possibly influence future therapeutic strategies.

To identify a possible role of lymphocytic infiltrates in failure mechanism of the metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty, the extent of lymphocytic infiltration was compared with reasons for prosthesis failure in a series of retrieval specimens. One hundred eighty-one femoral head and neck remnants were subjected to thorough analysis of histological findings and clinical data. Lymphocytic infiltrates were considered weak to moderate in 52 (28.7%) and excessive in ten (5.5%) cases. Six cases with excessive lymphocytic infiltrates belonged to the group of 33 (18.2%) revisions without obvious cause (periprosthetic fracture, component loosening, and infection) for prosthesis failure. Excessive lymphocytic infiltrates were strongly linked to the presence of proliferative desquamative synovitis (p < 0.0001). Both the excessive lymphocytic infiltrates and proliferative desquamative synovitis were associated with female gender (p < 0.05). We hypothesize that a specific cause of groin pain might be related to excessive intraosseous lymphocytic infiltrates and explained possibly by the hypersensitivity reaction of the delayed type after the hip resurfacing arthroplasty. Proliferative desquamative synovitis might constitute another morphologic feature associated with the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction.

Despite numerous studies demonstrating the characteristics of the optimal cement mantle in joint replacement, the clinical state of the cement mantle is rarely assessed. A random sample of 214 cemented implanted femoral hip components was retrieved post mortem from Hamburg, Germany, and sectioned to investigate the quality of the cement mantle. The most common observation made in at least one measured region per retrieval was debonding (82% of stems), followed by a thin cement mantle (74%), stem-bone contact (48%), soft tissue at the stem interface (44%), no cement-bone interdigitation (30%), a gap at the stem interface (28%), voids in the cement (22%) and cracks and blood in the cement mantle (<10%). 21% of stems demonstrated complete debonding of the interface. However, distributions of all other defects were local, with less than 10% of stems demonstrating any imperfection in more than 21% of the regions assessed. No progressive damage was observed with implantation duration. The results suggest that current implantation technique may be adequate for proper implant function over the service life in the older patient population. However, for younger and more active patients, perfection of the cementation technique is crucial, particularly in modern implant systems such as resurfacing. The frequency of almost all defects could be further reduced by careful implantation technique, providing the increased service life necessary for the ever younger, more physically demanding, patient population.

Primary stability is essential to the success of uncemented prostheses. It is strongly influenced by implantation technique, implant design and bone quality. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of press-fit parameters on the primary stability of uncemented femoral head resurfacing prostheses. An in vitro study with human specimens and prototype implants (nominal radial interference 170 and 420 microm) was used to investigate the effect of interference on primary stability. A finite element model was used to assess the influence of interference, friction between implant and bone, and bone quality. Primary stability was represented by the torque capacity of the implant. The model predicted increasing stability with actual interference, bone quality and friction coefficient; plastic deformation of the bone began at interferences of less than 100 microm. Experimentally, however, stability was not related to interference. This may be due to abrasion or the collapse of trabecular bone structures at higher interferences, which could not be captured by the model. High nominal interferences as tested experimentally appear unlikely to result in improved stability clinically. An implantation force of about 2,500 N was estimated to be sufficient to achieve a torque capacity of about 30 N m with a small interference (70 microm).

Background: Anatomic short femoral prostheses with a prominent lateral flare have the potential to reduce stress-shielding in the femur through a more physiological stress distribution to the proximal femur. We present the design rationale of a new short uncemented, proximally fixed anatomic femoral implant and the study design of a prospective multi-centre trial to collect long-term patient outcome and radiographic follow up data., Methods: A prospective surveillance study (trial registry NCT00208555) in four European centres (UK, Italy, Spain and Germany) with a follow up period of 15 years will be executed. The recruitment target is 200 subjects, patients between the ages of 18 and 70 admitted for primary cementless unilateral THA will be included. The primary objective is to evaluate the five-year survivorship of the new cementless short stem. The secondary objectives of this investigation are to evaluate the long term survivorship and the clinical performance of the implant, the impact on the subjects health related Quality of Life and the affect of the prosthesis on bone mineral density. Peri- and postoperative complications will be registered. Clinical and radiographic evaluation of prosthesis positioning will be done post-operatively and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 60, 120 and 180 months follow up., Discussion: Shortening of the distal stem can maximise bone and soft tissue conservation. New stem types have been designed to improve the limitations of traditional implants in primary THA. A new, uncemented femoral short stem is introduced in this paper. A long-term follow up study has been designed to verify stable fixation and to research into the clinical outcome. The results of this trial will be presented as soon as they become available.

Hip resurfacing has been experiencing a revival over the last 5-10 years. Early failure rates are higher than for conventional primary hip arthroplasty. Fractures of the femoral neck or head, cup loosening and persistent pain are the most frequently observed reasons for early revision. In this international retrospective uncontrolled study, 256 revision specimens (219 resurfacing heads, 37 cups) were analysed radiologically, tribologically, morphologically and histologically in order to investigate the failure mechanism. Of the head revisions, 70% were due to neck (median: 67 days after implantation) and head fractures (161 days), 9% were due to cup loosening (350 days) and 21% due to other reasons (602 days). Implants with rim loading (22% of all retrievals, cup inclination 58.0+/-10.9 degrees ) exhibited a head wear rate of 7.1+/-5.2 mm3/year. Non-rim loaded implants exhibited a head wear rate of 0.24+/-0.53 mm3/year (cup inclination 49.0+/-4.0 degrees ). The failure rate was highest during the first 16 weeks after surgery and for the first ten operations performed by a surgeon. Revisions based on problems on the femoral side such as notching and high implantation forces occurred earlier than revisions based on problems on the acetabular side such as cup loosening and high wear due to suboptimal cup position.

The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate migrational characteristics of cementless primary hip arthroplasty stems in combination with a diameter 50 mm head (hemiarthroplasty) and a diameter 28 mm head in and with a polyethylene cup (total hip arthroplasty) in fresh-frozen human specimens. Two different types (Endo SL, FMT) were implanted into seven pairs of fresh-frozen human femoral specimens. The implanted stems were combined with a diameter 50 mm head (hemiarthroplasty) on one side and with a polyethylene cup and a 28 mm head (total hip arthroplasty) on the other side. Dynamic mechanical loading was applied for 50,000 cycles while recording relative motions between stem and bone stock using a 3-D motion analysis system. The Endo SL stem showed a significantly higher amplitude of relative motion in all translational and rotational components regardless of the head used. In both stem types a strong tendency for higher axial migration with the diameter 50 mm head in comparison to the THA head was found. The lowest axial migration was found in the FMTstem in combination with the small head and a PE cup. The highest axial migration was found in the Endo SL stem combined with the diameter 50 mm head. Our results indicate that the head might play an important role for axial migration of cementless stems.

The present revival of hip resurfacing arthroplasty may be related to an increase in early failures owing to the challenging technique of the procedure. Fifty-five retrieved implants were analysed with respect to wear, cement mantle and cement penetration, fracture and head morphology, as well as standard histology. Femoral neck fractures occurred in median after 102 days. The time to failure was shorter for older women. Major deviations from the suggested cement mantle thickness and cement penetration were found. Indications for high trauma during implantation leading to early failure due to weakening of the femoral neck were also observed. Some failures had signs of pseudarthrosis beneath the implant. Four different fracture patterns with different mean survival times were identified. Observed wear was minor with the exception of that due to alignment mistakes (rim loading). The cups were not damaged by the failures. Histological results indicate that avascular necrosis is not necessarily connected with this kind of endoprosthetic surgery. Most of the failures analysed can probably be attributed to the 'learning curve' effect, which is an unsatisfactory situation.

Between August 2003 and April 2005, 300 ASR metal-on-metal resurfacing hip endoprostheses were implanted by the first author and a fellow surgeon. The mean age at surgery was 56.8 years (18-75.9 years) and mean body mass index was 27.6 kg/m2 (range, 19-41 kg/m2). The mean follow-up time was 202 days. The mean Harris hip score improved from 44 pre-operatively to 89 at 3 months post-operatively. In total, eight (2.7 per cent) cases [five neck fractures (1.66 per cent) and three cup revisions (1 per cent)] were revised. Two neck fractures occurred within a group of seven cases of femoral neck notching detected postoperatively; one neck fracture occurred out of two cases of incomplete seating of the femoral implant. A significantly higher (p < 0.001) failure rate was observed for patients who had undergone a previous osteosynthesis of the proximal femur (three revisions in a group of 15 patients). Revision cases had a significantly greater body mass index (p = 0.031). A learning curve was evident from the reduction in revisions from 5 in the first 100 surgical procedures to 2 in the next 100 and 1 in the last 100. These results show the importance of accurate surgical technique and careful patient selection for fourth-generation hip resurfacing implants,