[Influence of implant position of a hip prosthesis on alignment exemplified by the CLS shaft].

We performed a clinical and radiological analysis to evaluate the significance of the stem position of cementless CLS components with respect to function and survival. We used patient material from a multi-center study of 3,732 CLS stems with a mean follow-up of 43 months (range: 12-142 months). The clinical outcome was assessed using Merle D'Aubigné Scores and stem alignment was determined as the deviation of the longitudinal stem axis from the longitudinal femur axis. We found no correlation between stem alignment and function, survival, implant migration or periprosthetic radiolucent lines. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis and hip ankylosis the neutral stem position was less often achieved than in patients with other diagnoses. The results of our study cast doubt on whether the varus position of the femoral component of cementless tapered CLS-type stem designs is as critical as in cemented total hip arthroplasty.