Tissue growth into porous primary and revision femoral stems

The authors studied 45 uncemented porous-coated femoral stems from 45 patients: 35 primary total hip arthroplasties and 10 revisions of either cemented (7) or uncemented (3) femoral components. Histologic sections were examined quantitatively for type, amount, and distribution of tissue ingrowth; these findings were correlated with clinical and radiographic data. Fibrous tissue ingrowth predominated in both groups. Of the primary arthroplasty group, the grade of bone ingrowth in 8 specimens was none, 14 minimal, 6 moderate, and 7 more extensive. In the revision cases, the grade of bone ingrowth in 5 was none, 3 minimal, and 2 moderate. Bone ingrowth was seen more frequently in the distal porous coating, particularly in the revision cases, and most often where direct stem-endosteal canal contact had occurred. While bone ingrowth can occur in uncemented revision stems, it generally appears less abundantly than in primary total hip arthroplasty.