HIP International

In total hip replacement surgeons can choose from a various number of approaches, from posterior, lateral or direct anterior. Excellent results can be achieved with all approaches and there is no evidence for the use of a specific approach. Minimally invasive operating techniques might further contribute to that success. Early rehabilitation and functional outcome can be improved by the introduction of evidence based clinical pathways irrespective to the used approach.

In this update we searched the literature about the outcome of the lateral versus posterior approach in hip arthoplasty for osteoarthritis (OA) and femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients. The available evidence shows that the use of posterior approach in OA patients is associated with lower mortality and better functional outcome while the use of lateral approach in FNF patients gives lower dislocation rate. We recommend therefore the use of posterior approach in OA patients and lateral approach in FNF patients.

Most femoral neck fractures are osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. The one-year mortality after neck fracture in this group is 24%.

For hemiarthroplasty (HA) the bipolar heads have a risk reduction for reoperation due to acetabular erosion compared with monoblock heads. Surprisingly, the bipolar head had an increased reoperation risk for dislocation, infection and for periprosthetic fracture.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) after fracture has a four-fold raised risk for dislocation compared with THA after osteoarthritis. A larger head on the same neck (head to neck ratio) results in a theoretically larger range of movement and hence less risk for dislocation. The dual mobility bearing has, theoretically, the largest range of movement and good clinical results.

Functional results are better for THA compared with HA. Arthroplasty for fracture has much better results compared with arthroplasty after a failed internal fixation; the risk for reoperation is more than doubled for the latter.

A Swedish hip arthroplasty register study found a 20-fold higher risk for periprosthetic fracture when comparing uncemented HA with matt cemented HA. Also a polished cemented stem had 13½-fold higher risks compared with a matt.

The mortality during the first day after surgery is higher for cemented compared with uncemented arthroplasties, but lower after one week, one month and one year. Analysing the time points together resulted in no difference.

A matt cemented THA with a maximum head size, maybe dual mobility, has the best results, and is also for the low-demanding elderly.

Attempts to resurface the hip joint date back to the 1930s. Throughout the last century many designs failed due to defective materials or fixation (or a combination). The metal-on-metal designs pioneered at the end of the century appeared to herald a new era, until difficulties associated with adverse reactions to metal debris were identified. Ultimately, a much narrower range of indications emerged - large, young males appear to be the ideal recipients. Implant design features and component orientation are crucial to the survivorship of these implants.

In the previous decade, metal-on-metal hip resurfacing has been considered an attractive option and theoretically advantageous over conventional total hip arthroplasty, especially in young active patients. Different authors have reported favourable mid-term clinical and functional results with acceptable survival rates. Proper indication and planning, as accurate technical execution have been advocated to be crucial elements for success.

Concerns regarding serum metal ion levels and possible clinical implications have led in the last years to a decline in the use of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and metal-on-metal bearings in general.

The aim of this study is to present the results of our first 486 cases of hybrid hip resurfacing arthroplasties with a second generation cementing technique, and to describe our current restricted indication of this type of prosthesis, in the light of recent findings in the literature about the possible complications related to metallosis or improper patient selection. Global survivorship of our series was 97.9% at a mean follow-up of 7.2 years.

In the second season of our experience the indication is restrictive. The candidate for a resurfacing hip replacement is a young and active male patient, with good bone quality, that has been made aware of the risks and benefits of this type of prosthesis.

Short stem hip implants have been introduced as a bone preserving surgery for younger and more active people undergoing hip arthroplasty. Although many short stems are now available, clinical results and long-term survival are controversial. The aim of this paper is to describe the features of the short stems and to analyse their clinical results and long-term survival. The short-stem implants reproduce a stress distribution at the level of the proximal femur more similar to the physiological femur limiting the stress-shielding that occur with conventional cementless stems. Though short stems are an alternative to conventional stems, their use is not yet justified despite the promising short and mid-term survival results. Higher incidence of complications, such as periprosthetic fractures and malpositioning of the stem, and the lack of long-term results do not allow to predict what role in the future short stems in total hip replacement may have.

Total hip replacement is the treatment of choice for the patient suffering from end-stage hip osteoarthritis. Excellent long-term results have been published. In the presence of deformities due to congenital hip dislocation, total hip replacement is, in most of the cases, a difficult task, since the technique of performing such an operation is demanding and the results could vary. This paper presents our experience and preferred strategies focusing on challenges and surgical techniques associated with reconstructing the dysplastic hip.

Cup revision can be a highly complex operation depending on the bone defect. In acetabular defects of less than 30% (Paprosky types 1 and 2), porous hemispherical cementless cups fixed with screws give good results. Modern trabecular metal designs improve these good results. Morsellised allografts are useful for filling cavitary defects. In acetabular defects greater than 30% (Paprosky types 3A and 3B), impacted morsellised allografts with a cemented cup technique produce good results. Difficult cases with pelvic discontinuity require reconstruction of the acetabulum with acetabular plates or large cup-cages to solve these difficult problems.

Following the increasing number of total hip arthroplasties, the amount of hip revision procedures continue to rise. Careful patient selection and bone loss evaluation is crucial for a correct management of femoral revision procedures. The key point in femoral revision is to obtain a reliable primary stability of the stem, with the least invasive implant as possible, to preserve and if possible to restore the bone stock. In this article we present the indications and the techniques for the femoral revisions most commonly used in Europe, referring to the evidence in the literature and our personal experiences.

Infection is a devastating complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Risk factors have been recognised and prevention is possible. The nature of the disease is heterogeneous and for satisfactory management one has to weigh factors related to pathogen, host, local soft tissue, bone stock, surgeon experience and financial resources. Available data in the current literature is of poor quality and there is a lack of data comparing different techniques. Referral of patients to dedicated departments with the appropriate facilities may be more appropriate.

Total hip arthroplasty is considered one of the greatest advances in health care of the last century. More than one million THAs are estimated to be performed annually and an increasing number of revisions are expected in the future. Osteolysis and loosening are still the main reasons for failure, justifying the use of low-wear bearings.

The aim of this paper is to describe the mode of failure of the different couplings (polyethylene, cross-linked PE, metal, ceramic) and the options of treatment considering the various scenarios that the surgeon has to face nowadays in the case of failure related to articulation material. A comprehensive algorithm of treatment strategies is proposed based on the best current evidence and on the authors’ experience.

Periodical follow-up, indications for early revision, selection of proper surgical techniques and tribology are suggested. Nowadays, few rules are strongly recommended: trying to avoid any metal in case of failure of metal-on-metal; to avoid metal in fracture of ceramic; never to mix metals or ceramics from different manufactures. We aim to address a great number of open questions. There is still need for further research and evidences in this essential field of orthopaedic surgery.