Abstract
Aim: To assess the clinical and radiological performance of metal-on-metal articulations in uncemented total hip arthroplasty.
Method: Between 1996 and 2000, 60 uncemented S-ROM (Johnson & Johnson) total hip arthroplasties were performed on 55 patients with arthritis. Fifty-one of the patients (56 hips) were available for follow-up. This involved clinical assessments including completion of a hip score for each patient, along with radiological examinations.
Results: Follow-up ranged from six months to four years, with an average of 18 months. The average hip score improved from an average of 32.3 to 75.3 (maximum 84, range 53 to 84) at the latest follow-up. The average pain score improved from an average of 9.9 to 41.7 (maximum 44). No patients required revision for loosening of either the femoral or acetabular components. Thus far, there has been no radiological evidence of acetabular loosening.
Conclusions: In the short-term, the clinical performance of metal-on-metal articulations is equivalent to metal-on-polyethylene. In this group of patients, there has been no radiological evidence of acetabular loosening thus far.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor A. J. Thurston. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand
