Design aspects and clinical performance of the thrust plate hip prosthesis

The thrust plate hip prosthesis (TPP) was conceived to maintain the physiological stress distribution in the proximal femur so as to prevent bone atrophy in this region, often encountered after implantation of conventional stem-type prostheses. A thrust plate of TiAlNb is firmly fixed to the neck of the femur by means of a forged CoCrMo bolt introduced through the lateral cortex, just below the greater trochanter, and through the metaphysis. A boss that contains the bolt head rests on the lateral cortex. A proximal extension from the thrust plate terminates in the ball head of the hip joint. Bone remodelling causes the initial prestressing of the structure (primary stability) to decline, but full integration of the thrust plate with the underlying host bone affords secondary stability. A total of 102 TPPs were implanted in the Cantonal Hospital, Chur, Switzerland, from 1992 to 1999 in 84 patients. The TPP was selected particularly for patients of the younger age group (26-76). Through its ability to load the medial cortex of the proximal femur in a physiological manner, the cortical bone in this region is preserved. The mean Harris hip score is 97 points and the survival rate 98 per cent, 144 months post-operatively.