Primary total hip arthroplasty using an uncemented Wagner SL stem in elderly patients with Dorr type C femoral bone

The purpose of this study was to review retrospectively the primary total hip arthroplasties operated upon with the cementless Wagner Self-Locking stem in patients with type C femoral bone.

Twenty-eight total hip arthroplasties were performed in 25 patients aged ≥ 60 years using a cementless Wagner Self-Locking femoral component between 2006 and 2011. According to Dorr's criteria, all 28 femora were classified as type C bone. All patients were treated with THA using a cementless Wagner cone prosthesis. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were performed on all patients.

Mean follow-up period was 125 ± 10.5 months (range 96 to 156 months). Average Harris hip score pre-operatively was 46 ± 9 (range 39 to 62) and at the last follow-up was 90 ± 9 (range 83 to 98). The stem to canal fill is calculated as percentages on the operative side at three distinct levels: just below the lesser trochanter, at midstem, and 1 cm above the tip of the component on anteroposterior radiograph. The mean proximal stem-to-canal fill percentages were 97% ± 2.1%, 95% ± 3.5%, and 88% ± 2.6%, respectively (anteroposterior view) and 92% ± 2.2%, 86% ± 1.9%, and 83% ± 2.5%, respectively (lateral view). Radiographic evaluation demonstrated good osteointegration of the implants in the follow-up.

Based on the long-straight cylindrical tapered stem design, the cementless Wagner SL stem can achieve reliable stability by close apposition of the stem and wide stovepipe femoral canal from metaphysis to diaphysis in type C bone.