Femoral impaction bone grafting with the Elite Plus stem

This study evaluates the results of impaction grafting of the femoral stem with the Elite Plus system (DePuy, Leeds, UK) in revision hip arthroplasty with irradiated allograft. Nineteen hips in 19 patients (12 men and 7 women), at an average age of 59 years were followed for an average of 33 months. Endo-Klinik grading of bone stock loss was 5 grade 1, 6 grade 2, 8 grade 3 and no grade 4. Radiographic analysis revealed evidence of graft incorporation in 32% but no evidence of trabecular remodelling or cortical repair. Four patients have undergone revision of the femoral stem, one patient died while awaiting revision and one patient is unfit for revision. Most complications occurred in patients classified as Endo-Klinik grade 3. We found that impaction grafting with the Elite Plus system was associated with a high failure rate, especially in those cases with more severe bone stock loss. (Hip International 2002; 1: 11-6).