[Good results with a cemented titanium stem after 7-9 years].

AIM: Because of partially ver y controversial results in cemented hip stem replacements made of titanium alloy we investigated in our own patients the mid-term survival of the "Euroform"-stem. This stem is anatomically designed for cemented fixation, made of Ti (6)Al (4)V.

METHOD: Within a period between 1990 and 2000 we implanted 2,141 Euroform-prostheses. The course of 103 patients which were operated between April 1990 and April 1992 was followed up. 9 patients died in the meantime and 8 could not be reached. Of the remaining 86 patients we could examine 73 patients with 79 prostheses (87 %). Investiagtion included a questionnaire and clinical and radiological examination to create the Harris-hip-score. The follow-up was 7-9 years, with an average of 94 months.

RESULT: Of those 79 prostheses, revision surgery was performed for septic loosening in three cases and for aseptic loosening in two cases. Radiologically one stem was found to be loosen. This means that for aseptic loosening we had a revision rate for aseptical femoral loosening of 2.5 % after 94 months with a mean Harris-hip-score of 84 points. Good or excellent results were found in 82 %, fair results in 9 % and poor results in 9 %.

CONCLUSION

The "Euroform" prosthesis is a cemented titanium alloy stem that has in contrary to some other published studies good mid- to long-term results.