[Long-term results of implantation of polyethylene screw sockets using Edler's method]

High-molecular polyethylene is used in many technical spheres and in orthopaedics it is used in particular as a sliding component. In orthopaedic endoprosthetics it serves as a material for the manufacture of sockets, whereby polyethylene sockets can be anchored with our without cement. Morphological research corroborates the suspicion of inadequate static firmness of the polyethylene used and this may lead to abrasion and thus mechanical loosening of Endler's screw socket and subsequently also of the metal shank. At the orthopaedic department of the General hospital in Zwettel (Austria) between 1984 and 1987 113 Endler sockets were implanted in 101 patients. So far 41 reoperations were made in 39 patients. In 71% of the patients replacement by a non-cemented socket according to Zweymüller followed, in 17% by a cemented socket according to Müller. In 4 joints at the same time also the femoral component had to be replaced, in 13 shanks bone rarefaction in the area of the calcar femoris was detected. In shanks with removable heads the head was always replaced. Clinical evaluation of the operated patients was done according to the procedure of Merle d'Aubigné.