Abstract
Introduction
Total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in young patients are associated with high failure rates. We always use cemented total hip implants, however, in cases with acetabular bone stock loss we perform bone impaction grafting. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcome of 69 consecutive primary cemented total hips in patients younger than 30 years followed between 2 to 18 years.
Methods
Between 1988 and 2004, 69 consecutive primary cemented THAs (mainly Exeters) were performed in 48 patients (32 women, 16 men) younger than thirty years. Average age at time of operation was 25 years (range, 16 to 29 years). Twenty-nine hips (42%) underwent acetabular bone impaction grafting because of acetabular bone loss. Mean follow-up was 10 years (range, 2 to 18 years). Revisions were determined, Harris Hip Score (HHS), and Oxford Hip Questionnaire Score (OHQS) were obtained and radiographs were analyzed. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results
No patients were lost to follow-up, but 3 patients (4 hips) died during follow-up, none of whom had underwent revision. Eight revisions were performed: 3 septic loosenings (6, 7, and 8 years post-operative) and 5 aseptic cup loosenings (2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 years post-operative). No stems were loose. The average HHS and OHQS at follow-up were 89 points (range, 55 to 100 points) and 19 points (range, 12 to 42 points), respectively. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative survival with revision for any reason as end point was 83% (95% CI, 69 - 92%) at 10 years. Excluding the infections, the survival rate was 90% (95% CI, 77 - 96%) with revision for aseptic loosening. The outcome of the patients who underwent acetabular bone impaction grafting was comparable to the primary cemented hips with a survival of 89% (95% CI, 62 - 97%) with revision for any reason as an end point. Excluding the infections, the survival rate was 95% (95% confidence interval, 72 - 99%) at ten years with revision for aseptic loosening as the end point.
Conclusion
Primary cemented total hip arthroplasties in very young patients show satisfactory medium-term results, however, in cases with acetabular bone stock loss, a reconstruction with bone impaction grafting is advisable.
