[On the problem of femoral stem failure in hip replacement endoprostheses (author's transl)]

Femoral stem failure in total hip replacement is becoming an increasing problem in connection with the long time of implantation. For this reason the possible facts are described mainly responsible for the failure. By 3 cases of loss the influence of material aspects are shown on failures primary due to loosening. Only by a complete and especially careful control system in production of endoprostheses it is possible in all probability to avoid "in-vivo"-cases of technical cause only.