Prospective two-year subsidence analysis of 100 cemented polished straight stems - a short-term clinical and radiological observation.

BACKGROUND

Cemented stems show good long-term results and the survival of new implants can be predicted by their early subsidence. With EBRA-FCA (Femoral Component Analysis using Einzel-Bild-Röntgen-Analyse) early subsidence as an early indicator for later aseptic loosening can be analysed. For the cemented TwinSys stem mid- and long-term data is only avalible from the New Zeeland Arthroplasty register, thus close monitoring of this implant system is still mandatory.

METHODS

We conducted a 2 year follow up of 100 consecutive hybrid THA (Total hip arthroplasty) of a series of 285 primary THA operated between Jan 2009 und Oct 2010. These 100 received a polished, cemented collarless straight stem (twinSys®, Mathys AG® Bettlach, Switzerland) with an uncemented monobloc pressfit cup (RM pressfit®, Mathys AG® Bettlach, Switzerland). The other patients were treated with the uncemented version of this stem and the same cup. Clinical (Harris Hip Score) and radiological (ap and axial x-rays, cementing quality according to Barrack, alignment) outcomes besides an EBRA-FCA subsidence analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Median age at operation was 78 (68 to 93) years. 5 patients died in the course of follow-up unrelated to surgery. The KM (Kaplan-Meier) survival at 2 years for the endpoint reoperation for any reason was 94.9 (95 % confidence interval 90.6-100 %). Survival for the endpoint aseptic loosening at 2 years was 100 %. The HHS (Harris Hip Score) improved from 56 (14-86) preoperatively to 95 (60-100) 2 years after the operation. Cementing results were judged 47 % Grade A, 45 % Grade B and 7 % Grade C. Osteolysis was found in 2 stems without clinical symptoms or correlation to subsidence or cementing quality. The EBRA-FCA analysis showed an average subsidence of -0.30 mm (95 % CI -0.5 mm to -0.1 mm). 11 patients showed a subsidence of more than 1 mm. In this group one patient showed a subsidence of 1.5 mm and one of 3.1 mm without further radiological changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The twinSys stem showed excellent clinical and radiologic short term results at 2 years follow-up and seems to be a reliable implant.