Revision Hip Arthroplasty Using a Modular, Cementless Femoral Stem: Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: As the number of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases increase, so does the demand for revision operations. However, long-term follow-up data for revision THA is lacking.

Methods: A retrospective review was completed of patients who underwent revision THA at a single institution between January 2002 and October 2007 using a cementless modular stem. Patient demographic, clinical, and radiographic data was collected. Preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome scores were compared at a minimum of fourteen-year follow-up.

Results: Eighty-four patients (89 hips) with a median age of 69 years (range, 28 to 88) at operation were included. Indications for revision included aseptic loosening (84.2%), infection (12.4%), and periprosthetic fracture (3.4%). Twenty-two hips sustained at least 1 complication: intraoperative fracture (7.9%), dislocation (6.7%), prosthetic joint infection (4.5%), deep venous thrombosis (3.4%), and late periprosthetic fracture (2.2%). There were no modular junction complications. Eight patients underwent reoperations; only three involved the stem. Thirty-eight patients (45%) were deceased prior to final follow-up without known reoperations. Twenty-seven patients (32%) were lost to follow-up. Twenty-one patients (23%) were alive at minimum fourteen-year follow-up. Complete patient-reported outcomes were available for nineteen patients (range, 14 to 18.5 years of follow-up). Significant improvement was seen in UCLA activity, VR-12 physical, hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score, joint replacement., and Harris Hip score pain and function scores.

Conclusion: Challenges of long-term follow-up include patient migration, an unwillingness to travel for re-examination, medical comorbidities, advanced age, and death. The cementless modular revision stem demonstrated long-term clinical success and remains a safe and reliable option for complex revision operations.