Early clinical results of a new conservative hip stem.

Conservative stems conserve a larger amount of bone, and due to their biomechanical effect, they allow higher compression forces on the lateral column of the femur and reduce stress shielding. Since they conserve metaphyseal bone, short stems allow the use of conventional stems when revision surgery becomes necessary. The authors present the early results of a new bone conserving stem GTS (Biomet). A total of 80 patients (55 men and 25 women) were enroled in this prospective study and received 81 GTS stem (1 bilateral). Their mean age was 64.8 years (range 43-78) at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up was 16 months (range 6-24 month). The clinical assessment was performed by a single surgeon using the Merle d'Aubigné scale; radiographic complications were described. There was one calcar fracture, which required a fixation with a screw. No cases of clinical or radiological loosening were reported. GTS Conservative hip arthroplasty stem has proven to be an excellent implant for femoral hip replacement, with expectations that it may exceed the durability of other types of implants without harming the femoral diaphysis. This may facilitate eventual stem revision and give surgeons the opportunity of using a standard primary implant.