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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Individualized Stem-positioning in Calcar-guided Short-stem Total Hip Arthroplasty
Published on: February 27, 2018
Routine Use of Radiostereometric Analysis in Elective Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients: Surgical Impact, Safety,
Roshan P Shah1, Leanna MacLean, Wayne G Paprosky
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, NY (Dr. Shah), Halifax Biomedical, Mabou, Nova Scotia, Canada (Ms. MacLean), and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL (Dr. Paprosky and Dr. Sporer).
Background:
Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) accurately assesses arthroplasty implant performance and is routinely used for research purposes. Because of its efficacy in detecting implant failure in research subjects, we deployed the use of RSA beads for routine surveillance in all elective total hip and total knee arthroplasty patients.
Methods:
We retrospectively compared 143 patients who received RSA beads intraoperatively with 343 patients who did not receive RSA beads. Using RSA images, we assessed bead stability at 6 weeks and 1 year postoperatively.
Results:
There were no intraoperative complications in the RSA group and two in the control group. No differences were found between groups for the surgical time and the expected blood loss. At 6 weeks, 99.5% of beads were considered to be stable, with stability increasing to 99.7% of beads at 1 year.
Conclusion:
The routine use of RSA bead insertion is a safe procedure and may provide the ability to assess implant fixation in clinical practice.
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