Total articular replacement arthroplasty

Surface replacement, popularized in the early 1970s has fallen into disfavor by much of the orthopedic community. To date, the authors' experience with 29 cemented total articular replacement arthroplasties (TARAs) in 25 patients has been quite favorable. Factors associated with these favorable results include: a physiologic age less than 60, good bone quality, viability of the remaining femoral head, and preservation of the acetabular subchondral plate. The mean age of cases in this study was 52 years, with patient follow up ranging between 3.5 and 7 years; there were two failures. Today, although conventional cementless total hip arthroplasty seems to be in vogue, real and potential problems exist. These concerns, in conjunction with the good results reported in this series, should encourage the orthopedic surgeon to take a second look at resurfacing arthroplasty, especially in the select group of patients defined in this article. Pending the long-term results of non-cemented prostheses the surgeon may even consider using cementless TARA components.