Biologic fixation arthroplasty in the treatment of osteonecrosis

To provide a possible solution to the problem of aseptic loosening of prosthetic hip replacement components, the authors treated selected patients who had stage IV, V, or VI osteonecrosis with uncemented, porous-coated components on the femoral side. These stems are designed for bone ingrowth, with the goal of attaining a more viable and permanent interlocking bone between the implant and host bone. This article presents the necessary surgical principles and techniques for biologic fixation arthroplasty and reports the early results that have been obtained.