The long-term results of grafting with hydroxyapatite granules for acetabular deficiency in revision total hip replacement are not well known. We have evaluated the results of revision using a modular cup with hydroxyapatite grafting for Paprosky type 2 and 3 acetabular defects at a minimum of ten years’ follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed 49 acetabular revisions at a mean of 135 months (120 to 178). There was one type 2B, ten 2C, 28 3A and ten 3B hips. With loosening as the endpoint, the survival rate was 74.2% (95% confidence interval 58.3 to 90.1). Radiologically, four of the type 3A hips (14%) and six of the type 3B hips (60%) showed aseptic loosening with collapse of the hydroxyapatite layer, whereas no loosening occurred in type 2 hips. There was consolidation of the hydroxyapatite layer in 33 hips (66%). Loosening was detected in nine of 29 hips (31%) without cement and in one of 20 hips (5%) with cement (p = 0.03, Fisher’s exact probability test). The linear wear and annual wear rate did not correlate with loosening.

These results suggest that the long-term results of hydroxyapatite grafting with cement for type 2 and 3A hips are encouraging.

We compared a modular neck system with a non-modular system in a cementless anatomical total hip replacement (THR). Each group consisted of 74 hips with developmental hip dysplasia. Both groups had the same cementless acetabular component and the same articulation, which consisted of a conventional polyethylene liner and a 28 mm alumina head. The mean follow-up was 14.5 years (13 to 15), at which point there were significant differences in the mean total Harris hip score (modular/non-modular: 98.6 (64 to 100)/93.8 (68 to 100)), the mean range of abduction (32° (15° to 40°)/28 (0° to 40°)), use of a 10° elevated liner (31%/100%), the incidence of osteolysis (27%/79.7%) and the incidence of equal leg lengths (≥ 6 mm, 92%/61%). There was no disassociation or fracture of the modular neck.

The modular system reduces the need for an elevated liner, thereby reducing the incidence of osteolysis. It gives a better range of movement and allows the surgeon to make an accurate adjustment of leg length.

Ceramic heads and highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) as bearing surface materials have been introduced to reduce the production of polyethylene wear particles. The present study hypothesized that the wear rate of HXLPE could be further reduced when combined with a ceramic head. The purpose of this study was to compare the in vivo wear of Longevity HXLPE against cobalt-chromium and zirconia heads after a minimum 5-year follow-up.

A prospective cohort study was performed in 102 cementless total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with the Longevity HXLPE socket (Zimmer) between June 2000 and October 2001. Same prostheses were used in all cases both acetabular cups (Trilogy; Zimmer) and femoral stems (Versys Fiber Metal Taper; Zimmer). 26-mm zirconia heads (NGK) or 26-mm cobalt-chromium heads (Zimmer) were randomly used in 51 hips each. A minimum 5-year follow-up was completed for 47 hips with zirconia heads and 46 hips with cobalt-chromium heads. Two-dimensional linear wear of Longevity HXLPE was measured using computer-assisted methods (PolyWare) on annual x-rays, and total head penetration rates and steady state wear rates were calculated. In addition, periprosthetic osteolysis was evaluated.

At a mean 6-year follow-up, the total head penetration rates were 0.034±0.016 mm/year (zirconia) and 0.031±0.015 mm/year (cobalt-chromium). The steady state wear rates were −0.01 mm/year (zirconia) and −0.01 mm/year (cobalt-chromium). No significant difference was seen between the two groups (p=0.4 and p=0.91). Osteolysis was not observed around prostheses in any hips.

In conclusion, no advantage was seen for the zirconia head compared with the cobalt-chromium head in this time period.

The anterior pelvic plane (APP) through the bilateral anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) and pubic tuberosities is often used as a pelvic reference in measuring orientation of the acetabular cup in total hip arthroplasty. Apophyses such as ASIS are, however, anatomically variable among patients and APP does not always represent the functional pelvic tilt in the sagittal plane in each patient. Therefore, malposition of the cup and recurrent dislocation may occur even though the cup is placed in a safe zone when measured against APP. We analyzed dynamic pelvic tilt angle in the sagittal plane using a motion analysis system after THA and we found a case of recurrent dislocation due to an unusual APP tilt.

A 77-year-old woman underwent primary THA 3 years ago and cup re-implantation was done with the use of a 10-degree elevated liner and the head diameter was increased from 26mm to 28 mm after two anterior dislocations. However, posterior dislocation occurred 11 times after this. A second revision was performed with a 36 mm head and cup anteversion was optimized against APP. Further posterior dislocations occurred twice again. To probe the cause of recurrent dislocation, we performed motion analysis using a 6-camera VICON system and the markers were registered to the bone and implant models based on the postoperative CT images. This system visually represents four-dimensional dynamic motions that include the time sequential transitions of components and their posture. The cup had been placed in 6 degrees of radiographic anteversion against APP, and in −13 degrees of radiographic retroversion in supine (FPP), because the pelvic flexion angle in supine was 17.6 degrees. Furthermore, when standing, the pelvic flexion angle increased 10 degrees.

Malposition of the acetabular cup in THA is the most common cause of dislocation. To avoid errors in cup placement, computer navigation systems have been introduced and most of the navigation systems refer APP to establish cup orientation. There are two drawbacks in using APP as the reference. One is that apophyses such as ASIS develop variably in each patient with a resulting variability in APP tilt in the sagittal plane in supine. The other is significant changes in pelvis tilt during various activities of daily living such as standing, walking, and sitting. Therefore, even if cup orientation is acceptable when referencing APP, it can be mal-oriented in a functional position of the pelvis as in this case, which showed proper anteversion against APP but retroversion in supine, standing and sitting.

In conclusion, we found that there exists a case in which APP is not a suitable pelvic reference in determining orientation of the cup.

To analyze the long term results of a third generation ceramic on ceramic bearing in cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA), we reviewed the clinical and radiological results of 100 consecutive THAs performed in 86 patients (68 females, 80 hips; 18 males, 20 hips) between 1996 and 1998. The average age at operation was 55 years with a range of 26 to 73 years. The diagnoses were osteoarthritis in 83 hips, osteonecrosis in 10 hips and rheumatoid arthritis in 7 hips. The articulation was composed of a hemispherical titanium porous bead-coated cup (AnCA), a Biolox Forte alumina ceramic cup liner and a ball with a diameter of 28-mm. The modular ceramic liner was fixed directly to the metal cup without polyethylene sandwich or metal rim. A press-fit technique of 1 mm under-reaming without screws was used for cup fixation. The ceramic head was fixed to a 12/14 taper cone of a modular neck which allowed changes in neck-shaft angle, anteversion, and offset. All operations were performed via a posterolateral approach under general anesthesia. To measure the cup orientation, an ellipse was fitted to the acetabular component rim on the early postoperative AP radiographs using computer software. The average cup inclination and anteversion in the radiographic definition were 41 (range 28 to 63) and 17 (range 3 to 34) degrees, respectively. 22 cups were outside the Lewinnek safe zone. All patients were radiographically evaluated in term of implant stability at two years using Engh’s criteria. All of the acetabular components radiologically were judged to be bone-ingrown stable at two years except one cup. 98 stems were judged to be bone-ingrown stable and the remaining two stems were judged to be fibrous stable at two years. After two years, all patients except for two were followed up clinically and radiologically for at least 10 years or until revision or death. One unstable cup was revised at 2.5 years. This case had a previous Chiari’s pelvic osteotomy and insufficient press-fit of the cup was assumed to have led to loosening. One of the two fibrous stable stems was revised at six years due to aseptic loosening. One rheumatoid arthritis hip with stable bone ingrown fixation developed late infection at six years and was revised. One stable cup showed chipping of the acetabular liner at 8 years and required revision. The orientation of this cup was 55 degrees of inclination and 17 degrees of anteversion and the high inclination was thought to be related to the ceramic liner chipping. The remaining hips showed no osteolysis or loosening at the final follow-up. There were no squeaking hips. The 10-year survivorships with the endpoint of mechanical loosening or revision were 96.7% and 95.6%, respectively. We conclude that the third generation ceramic on ceramic hip bearing without polyethylene sandwich provided long term stability and eliminated periprosthetic osteolysis.

Alendronate is a potent inhibitor of bone resorptive activity, and has been shown to prevent and restore periprosthetic osteolysis in experimental models. A preliminary study was conducted to examine clinical usefulness of a lendronate treatment.

Twenty-five patients (27 hips) with radiological evidence of osteolysis after cemented total hip arthroplasty were included. Of these, 14 patients (15 hips) were administered 5 mg of alendronate daily (alendronate group), and 11 patients (12 hips) did not receive alendronate treatment (control group). The subjects were followed up for 12 months, using radiological examinations and biochemical markers. The radiological analysis was evaluated blindly by 2 joint arthroplasty experts, each with more than 10 years of experience, without knowledge of alendronate administration.

In the alendronate group, average serum bone alkaline phosphatase and urinary excretion of the N-telopep-tide of type I collagen values decreased from the baseline values after administration of alendronate, to 71% and 76% of baseline at the 3-month examination, and 57% and 62% at the 1-year examination, respectively. In the control group, expansion of osteolysis was found in 5 hips (42%) and no hip showed restoration of osteolysis. In the alendronate group, expansion of osteolysiswas found in 2 hips (13%), and restoration of osteolysis was found in 5 hips (33%). There was a statistically significant difference in ratio of hips with osteolysis restoration between the 2 groups (p< 0.05). In the alendronate group, there was no significant difference in age, average linear wear rate of polyethylene, and the biochemical markers, between the hips with and without diminishment of osteolysis.

Conclusions: The present results indicate that clinicala-lendronate treatment can prevent and restore periprosthetic osteolysis, which is generally thought to require surgical intervention. These findings warrant further study of the effects of duration and dose of alendronate treatment, component materials, and component fixation methods.

Introduction: Progression of collapse in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is greatly influenced by repair reactions, especially bone resorptive activity. This study was performed to test if systemic alendronate treatment, a potent inhibitor of osteoclast activity, can prevent the development of collapse in ONFH.

Materials and Methods: Daily administration of oral alendronate (5mg/day) was started in 14 hips in 11 patients with ONFH (Alendronate group). At the beginning of the study (3, 6, 12 months), plain radiographs, T1-weighted MR imaging, and biochemical makers of osteoclast activity (N-telopeptide of type-I collagen) and osteoblast activity (Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase), were examined. At 12 months, MR imaging was repeated. Eleven hips in 6 patients with ONFH who did not receive alendronate administration were considered as the control group.

Results: There was no significant difference with respect to gender distribution, etiology factors, initial ARCO stages, and extent of necrosis in the two groups. In the alendronate group, there was an early decrease of osteoclast activity at 3 months, with a decrease to 62% at 12 months, while the decrease of osteoblast activity was smaller with 80% at 12 months. Development of collapse was observed in 4 of the 11 hips (36%) in the control group, and in none of the 14 hips in the alendronate group. There was a significant difference of collapse development between the two groups (p=0.026, Mann-Whitney U-test). Signal change on serial MR images was observed in 5 of 9 hips (56%) in the control group, with only one of 9 hips (11%) in the alendronate group.

Discussion: The low incidence of signal change on serial MR images may reflect the decrease of repair activity in the alendronate group. The present study was the first clinical trial to show that alendronate has a significant preventive effect of collapse development in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Introduction: There is controversy over whether the lesions of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) will spontaneously decrease. This study reports a longitudinal study of lesion volume using high-resolution serial MRI and recently developed techniques for image registration to realign serial images.

Materials and Methods: Baseline and follow-up (minimum one year later) MRI scans were carried out on 15 patients (18 hips). Accurate subvoxel registration was performed and subtraction images were produced to reveal areas of regional necrotic lesion change. Volume-to-femoral head ratio (VFR) was calculated to normalize the measured volume to the total femoral head volume.

Results: Three of 18 hips showed spontaneous reductions in the size of the lesions. They were all related to steroid use and were within one year after initial steroid treatment The mean volume decrease of these 3 hips was 3.4 ± 2.0 cm³ (SD) and its VFR was 6.8 ± 3.1 % (SD). Mean necrotic lesion volumes at baseline of decreasing lesions and unchanged lesions were 4.6 ± 2.5 cm³ (VFR, 9.1 ± 3.9 %) and 7.5 ± 5.5 cm³ (VFR, 16.7 ± 12.4 %), respectively.

There was no statistically significant difference in baseline lesion volume between decreasing lesions and unchanged lesions.

Discussion: In conclusion, some early lesions within one year after onset can decrease in size on MRI, regardless their size at baseline.

Introduction: In order to investigate the relationship between the degeneration of the acetabular cartilage and the radiological staging of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, the following study was performed.

Materials and Methods: Acetabular cartilage with sub-chondral bone was taken from the superior dome from 34 hips from 30 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty due to osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The specimens were stained with hematoxylineosin and safranin-O, and were evaluated as to the thinning of cartilage, fibrillation, clefts, and proliferation of chondrocytes. There were 18 females and 12 males with an average age of 49 years. We used the radiological staging system proposed by the working group of the Specific Disease Investigation Committee under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. There were eight hips in stage IIIA disease (collapse of the femoral head less than 3 mm), 19 hips in stage IIIB disease (collapse 3 mm or greater), and seven stage IV disease hips.

Results: All 34 specimens showed histological abnormalities. In eight stage IIIA hips, six hips were mild and two were moderate histological degeneration. In 19 stage IIIB hips, five hips were mild, six were moderate, and eight had severe arthrosis. Seven stage IV hips had severe arthrosis.

Discussion: Although the radiographs cannot demonstrate early degeneration of cartilage, degenerative changes were present in all stage III hips. Histological degenerative changes in stage IIIB hips were more severe than those in stage IIIA hips. These findings should be kept in mind in treating patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

In 52 patients we compared the accuracy of standard anteroposterior (AP) radiography, mortise radiography and MRI with arthroscopy of the ankle for the diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. In comparison with arthroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 44.1%, 100% and 63.5% for standard AP radiography and 58.3%, 100% and 71.2% for mortise radiography. For MRI they were 100%, 93.1% and 96.2% for a tear of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and 100%, 100% and 100% for a tear of the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Standard AP and mortise radiography did not always provide a correct diagnosis. MRI was useful although there were two-false positive cases. We suggest that arthroscopy of the ankle is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.