Low- vs high-viscosity cement in hip arthroplasty. No radiographic difference in 226 arthrosis cases followed for 5...

In 1984 and 1985, 352 hips were randomly assigned to total hip arthroplasty with either low- or high-viscosity cement at 5 Swedish orthopedic departments. Of the 267 hips finally included in the study, 226 were examined clinically and radiographically after 54-77 months. Radiographically, 21 definite stem loosenings and 1 probable stem loosening were observed (10 percent) and 4 additional stems had been exchanged before the 5-year examination. In the survivorship analysis, 261 stem prostheses were included and using this method, 7 percent were radiographically loose after 5 years. There were 4 definitely loose and 8 probably loose acetabular cups. No difference was found between cement of high and low viscosity with regard to prosthetic fixation.