In 2002 and 2006, we reported the long-term results of 208 total hip replacements performed with the Zweymüller stem and a threaded cup in 200 patients. The present study gives an update on this patient cohort. At a minimum of twenty years postoperatively, seventy-three patients (seventy-five hips) were available for follow-up; twelve patients were lost to follow-up. The key findings of our previous reports were the absence of aseptic femoral stem loosening and a poor rate of survival of the threaded cup. Since then, two revisions have been performed because of aseptic stem loosening. We observed osteolytic lesions around the proximal part of the femoral component on twenty-four (47%) of fifty-one radiographs, but no stem was deemed at risk for loosening. The probability of survival of the stem at twenty years was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.91 to 0.99), and the probability of survival of the cup at twenty years was 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.57 to 0.75). The Zweymüller femoral stem, a tapered, rectangular implant, continues to give excellent long-term results. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate and quantify the bacterial adherence to the different components of total hip prosthesis. The bacterial load of 80 retrieved hip components from 24 patients was evaluated by counting of colony-forming units (CFU) dislodged from component surfaces using the sonication culture method. Micro-organisms were detected in 68 of 80 explanted components. The highest bacterial load was detected on the polyethylene liners, showing a significant difference in distribution of CFU between the liner and metal components (stem and cup). Staphylococcus epidermidis was identified as the pathogen causing the highest CFU count, especially from the polyethylene liner. Results of our study confirm that sonicate culture of the retrieved liners and heads, which revealed the highest bacterial loads, are reliable and sufficient for pathogen detection in the clinical diagnostic routine.

Ip arthroplasty involving the use of a prosthesis with a high-carbide-concentration, metal-on-metal articulating surface between November 1992 and May 1994. The present study gives an update on this patient cohort. Methods: At a minimum of seventeen years postoperatively, forty-nine patients (fifty-two hips) were available for follow-up examination. We retrospectively evaluated clinical and radiographic results as well as serum metal concentration. The mean patient age at the time of the index arthroplasty was fifty-six years. Results: Three cups (6% of the hips) and one stem (2% of the hips) were revised because of aseptic loosening of the implants combined with focal osteolysis. At the time of the latest follow-up evaluation, the mean Harris hip score was 88.8 points, and the mean University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score was 6.7 points. The cumulative rate of implant survival, with aseptic failure as the end point, was 93.0% at 18.8 years. The median serum cobalt concentration in patients whose hip implant was the only source of cobalt was 0.70 μg/L (range, 0.4 to 5.1 μg/L), showing no increase in the value as noted at a minimum of ten years of follow-up. Conclusions: The clinical and radiographic results of our study, which, to our knowledge, represent the longest duration of follow-up for a series of cementless total hip arthroplasties with use of a 28-mm metal-on-metal bearing, continue to be comparable with the results observed for other hard-on-hard bearings. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence....

Background. Indication for rotating hinge (RH) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) includes primary and revision cases, with contradictory results. The aim of this study was to report prospective early results of a new modular rotating hinge TKA (EnduRo). For this implant several new design features and a new bearing material (carbon-fiber reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone) have been developed. Furthermore, we tried to establish a new classification of failure modes for revision TKA.Methods. 152 EnduRo rotating-hinge prostheses were implanted in two centers. In 90 patients a primary implantation has been performed and 62 patients were revision cases. Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and Range of motion (ROM) were assessed before surgery, 3 months postoperatively, 12 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. We defined 3 types of complications: Type 1, infection; type 2, periprosthetic complications; type 3, implant failures.Results. KSS, WOMAC, OKS, and ROM revealed significant improvements between the preoperative and the follow-up investigations. There were 14 complications (9.2%) leading to revision surgery, predominantly type 2.Conclusion. Our study shows excellent clinical results of the EnduRo TKA. Furthermore, no premature material failure or unusual biological response to the new bearing material could be detected.