Collarless polished tapered stem: clinical and radiological follow-up over 5 years

The clinical and radiologic outcome of a cemented, polished, tapered stem (CPT), implanted using contemporary cementing techniques in 108 consecutive operated hips in 100 patients (68 women and 32 men, aged 19 to 83 years at the time of surgery [mean, 65 years]) was assessed after >5 years. The Harris hip scores were good or excellent in 96% of the patients. Stem subsidence measured by the computer-assisted method described by Braud and Freeman was at a mean rate of 0.44 mm/y, 1.08 mm during the first year, and stabilizing to a mean total of 2.18 mm at >5 years. Subsidence was related inversely to the completeness of the cement mantle but did not correlate with the clinical or radiologic outcome. This study confirms that collarless, polished, tapered stems subside within the cement mantle but without loosening and that the CPT performs at least as well as the Exeter stem.