10-year experience with short stem total hip arthroplasty

Since 1998, short stem total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been performed at the authors' institution. Currently, 30% of THAs are performed with short stems. This article reports on complications that required revision of a short stem THA. Between September 2005 and February 2012, a total of 1953 Metha short stem THAs were performed; of these, 38 required revision due to mechanical complications. In 12 cases, the modular titanium neck adapter failed. In 19 cases, aseptic implant loosening occurred; of these, 11 cases were due to major stem subsidence. In 2 cases, via falsa (cortical penetration) implantation occurred. In 5 cases, periprosthetic fractures led to revision. This corresponds to an aseptic total revision rate of 1.3% for 26 short stems and 1.9% including the cases of all 38 documented revision cases. Thirty-four cases were revised with cementless standard hip stems, 2 cases were revised with short stems, and 2 cases were revised with long revision stems. Undersizing was analyzed in 58% of aseptic revisions. Fifty-four percent of revisions were performed in male patients - 23% with osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and 7% with short hip stems positioned in varus in coxa vara deformities. Seventy-two percent of revisions after marked early stem subsidence and position change into valgus were performed in female patients. Dysplastic hips with coxa valga did not show elevated revision rates. No revisions were performed for dislocation or femoral thigh pain. Short stem THA with the Metha implant is a bone-preserving option for various indications in select patient groups.