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Updated: Jul 27, 2025
Individualized Stem-positioning in Calcar-guided Short-stem Total Hip Arthroplasty
Published on: February 27, 2018
Stem alignment with short tapered-wedge cementless stems affects bone mineral density continuously for at least
Sho Masuda1,2, Kentaro Iwakiri1, Yoichi Ohta3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shiraniwa Hospital Joint Arthroplasty Centre, Nara, Japan.
Aim:
This study aimed to assess the relationship between the three-dimensional (3D) alignment of short tapered-wedge cementless stems and bone mineral density (BMD) changes in patients followed up for 5 years after total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Methods:
We retrospectively analysed the hips of 52 patients who underwent THA using short tapered-wedge cementless stems at our institution from 2013 to 2016 with complete 5-year follow-up data. We evaluated the relationship between stem alignment, measured using a 3D-templating software, and BMD changes in the 7 Gruen zones.
Results:
After 1 year, significant negative correlations between varus insertion and a decrease in BMD in zone 7 and between flexed insertion and decreases in BMD in zones 3 and 4 were noted. After 5 years, significant negative correlations between varus insertion and a decrease in BMD in zone 7 and between flexed insertion and decreases in BMD zones 2, 3, and 4 were observed. With increased amounts of varus/flexion stem alignment, the amount of BMD loss decreased. There was no correlation between anteverted stem insertion and changes in BMD levels.
Conclusions:
Our data showed that stem alignment affects BMD based on 5-year follow-up data after surgery. Careful observation is necessary, especially when using short tapered-wedge cementless stems, as stem alignment may affect changes in BMD levels more than 5 years after surgery.
