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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®
Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® 2/2012

01-02-2012 | Symposium: Papers Presented at the Annual Meetings of The Hip Society

A Short Tapered Stem Reduces Intraoperative Complications in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

Authors: Ryan G. Molli, DO, Adolph V. Lombardi Jr, MD, FACS, Keith R. Berend, MD, Joanne B. Adams, BFA, Michael A. Sneller, BS

Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® | Issue 2/2012

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Abstract

Background

While short-stem design is not a new concept, interest has surged with increasing utilization of less invasive techniques. Short stems are easier to insert through small incisions. Reliable long-term results including functional improvement, pain relief, and implant survival have been reported with standard tapered stems, but will a short taper perform as well?

Questions/purposes

We compared short, flat-wedge, tapered, broach-only femoral stems to standard-length, double-tapered, ream and broach femoral stems in terms of intraoperative complications, short-term survivorship, and pain and function scores.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 606 patients who had 658 THAs using a less invasive direct lateral approach from January 2006 to March 2008. Three hundred sixty patients (389 hips) had standard-length stems and 246 (269 hips) had short stems. Age averaged 63 years, and body mass index averaged 30.7 kg/m2. We recorded complications and pain and function scores and computed short-term survival. Minimum followup was 0.8 months (mean, 29.2 months; range, 0.8–62.2 months).

Results

We observed a higher rate of intraoperative complications with the standard-length stems (3.1%; three trochanteric avulsions, nine femoral fractures) compared with the shorter stems (0.4%; one femoral fracture) and managed all complications with application of one or more cerclage cables. There were no differences in implant survival, Harris hip score, and Lower Extremity Activity Scale score between groups.

Conclusions

Fewer intraoperative complications occurred with the short stems, attesting to the easier insertion of these devices. While longer followup is required, our early results suggest shortened stems can be used with low complication rates and do not compromise the survival and functional outcome of cementless THA.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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Metadata
Title
A Short Tapered Stem Reduces Intraoperative Complications in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors
Ryan G. Molli, DO
Adolph V. Lombardi Jr, MD, FACS
Keith R. Berend, MD
Joanne B. Adams, BFA
Michael A. Sneller, BS
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0009-921X
Electronic ISSN: 1528-1132
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-011-2068-7

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