Cementless fixation of "isoelastic" hip endoprostheses manufactured from plastic materials

Nine years of clinical experience with an "isoelastic" shaft prosthesis manufactured using polyacetal resin reveal that for the transmission of forces from the pelvis through the femoral head and neck into the femoral shaft, some rigidity of the proximal part of the prosthesis is necessary. The object is to eliminate micromovements, which lead to bone resorption and implant loosening. However, elasticity greater than that present in metallic implants prevents stress concentrations and disuse stress protection atrophy of the bone. Greater elasticity of the prosthesis, which can be achieved by plastic materials, makes possible a more even, harmonious distribution of the forces transmitted from the implant to the bone and vice versa. A more elastic implant can also act as a better shock absorber than a rigid one. The results in 627 cementless polyethylene cups after a maximum observation period of 5.5 years reveal good incorporation and no aseptic loosening. Especially favorable results occurred in 61 cases by replacing loosened cemented cups with bone grafts and cementless polyethylene cups. On the femoral shaft side too high an elasticity in the proximal part of the prosthesis led to bone resorption and loosening with the first model of the prosthesis. By reinforcing the proximal part of the femoral component, much better results were obtained. The isoelastic femoral shaft, however, is in an early stage of experimentation.