Evaluation of polytetrafluoroethylene-graphite-coated total hip prostheses in goats

This study was designed to determine if a porous polytetrafluoroethylene-graphite coating could furnish long-term stabilization of total hip prostheses. Prostheses were surgically implanted in 12 mature goats, which were observed postoperatively for as long as 1 year. Effective stabilization occurred in only 4 animals. Poor results in the other animals were attributed to lack of stabilization of the prostheses following initial implantation, which allowed movement at the interface between bone and polytetrafluoroethylene-graphite.