Does trapezium remodeling correlate with cup shape?

We investigated whether trapezium bone reaction was different following implantation of a trapeziometacarpal total joint replacement with a hemispheric or a conical cup. Fifty-three Keri Medical Touch implants with hemispheric cup and 53 with conical cup were prospectively followed up radiographically. We compared radiographs taken immediately and one year after surgery for cup subsidence, tilt, heterotopic ossification and loosening. Cup subsidence of at least 1 mm was detected in 4% of cases for both cup types. Additive bone reaction around the cup of more than 1 mm was present in 62% of conical cups and 47% of hemispheric cups. These were minor and there were no large ossifications with risk of impingement. Minor radiolucency was seen superficially at the implant-bone interface of 13% of the hemispheric cups and 9% of the conical cups. None of these bone reactions differed significantly according to cup design.