Complex Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: Small Stems for Big Challenges.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Total hip arthroplasty is a highly successful procedure.
• Femoral deformities, prior osteotomies, and retained hardware complicate hip arthroplasty.
• Corrective osteotomies and hardware removal increase surgical morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the surgical technique and case-based application of short stems in complex primary total hip arthroplasty.
• To evaluate the potential of short stems to mitigate morbidity in challenging hip arthroplasty cases.

Main Methods:

• Case-based illustration of surgical technique.
• Utilizing short-stem implants in primary total hip arthroplasty with femoral deformity and retained hardware.
• Radiographic analysis and short-term outcome assessment.

Main Results:

• Short stems can be effectively used in primary total hip arthroplasty with complex femoral deformities and retained hardware.
• This technique demonstrates potential for reduced patient morbidity.
• Radiographic examples and short-term outcomes support the use of short stems in these challenging cases.

Conclusions:

• Short stems represent a viable strategy to reduce morbidity in primary total hip arthroplasty complicated by femoral deformity or retained hardware.
• The technique offers a less morbid alternative for complex cases.
• Further investigation into long-term outcomes is warranted.