Poor results with the Shuttle Stop: resorbable versus nonresorbable intramedullar cement restrictor in a prospective...

In a randomized prospective study we compared 2 femoral plugs as regards probable migration of the restrictor, cement leakage and possible early aseptic loosening. In group I, the femoral canal was plugged with a resorbable Shuttle Stop (HC Implants, BV. Leiden, The Netherlands). In group II, a nonresorbable restrictor of polyethylene was used (De Puy, UK). Both groups were identical as regards age, gender and primary disease. All patients were followed for at least 2 years after surgery. Postoperatively, we found more failures with displacement of the femoral plug and cement leakage in group I than in group II. At the 2-year follow-up, we found no differences in stem loosening or grade of radiolucent lines in the cement-bone interface. We can not recommend the Shuttle Stop for femoral canal sealing in total hip replacememt.