The radiological appearance of the cementless ALLOCLASSIC SL-stem, implanted in patients with primary osteoarthritis of the hip and aged at least 80 years at time of surgery, was investigated.
66 hips in 58 patients were analysed. 17 patients (19 hips) died in the interim, 5 patients (5 hips) were not available for follow-up because of health reasons (4) or lack of co-operation (1). 1 stem had to be explanted after a periprosthetic fracture of the femur. Finally, 41 total hip arthroplasties in 35 patients could be analysed after an average of 67.9 months (39.2-93.4).
Bone atrophy - especially in the proximal Gruen zones - was frequently found. In contrast, radiolucent lines and osteolyses were rare occurrences. The Harris Hip score was preoperatively on average 33.0 points, at time of follow-up 81.7 points. The survival rate (endpoint aseptic loosening) was 100 % after a mean follow-up of 5.7 years.
Also in very old patients the implantation of a cementless stem is possible and provides very good results.