The Optimal Depth for Femoral Cement Insertion in Total Hip Replacement. An Anatomical and Clinical Study into Cementing Technique in the Proximal Femur

In retrograde cementing, blood often rises proximally on the surface of injected cement. This blood contamination weakens the cement-bone interface. The major source of bleeding into the proximal femoral medullary canal is the severed nutrient artery.

The aims of this study were to define the clinically relevant anatomy of the nutrient artery supplying the proximal femur and establish the optimum depth of cement insertion to minimise blood contamination.

Sixty cadaveric femora were radiographed with a wire placed in the nutrient foramen to assess the distance from the tip of the greater trochanter to its entry into the proximal femoral medullary canal. The nutrient artery entered the medullary canal at an average of 13.9 cm from the tip of the greater trochanter and never more proximal than 10.3cm.

In 30 patients undergoing primary total hip replacement, cement was inserted retrogradely at 7.5cm, 10 cm or 15 cm from the tip of the greater trochanter and blood contamination recorded. There was blood in significantly fewer cases when cement was inserted at 10cm.

Cement insertion 10cm distal to the tip of the greater trochanter appears to occlude the bleeding nutrient artery and should give a stronger proximal cement-bone interface.