Cemented versus cementless total hip arthroplasty. A comparative study of equivalent patient populations

Seventy-one cemented total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in 66 patients were compared with 70 cementless THAs in 61 patients. The cemented and cementless components were identical except for the presence of a porous proximal surface on the cementless component. The mean follow-up time was 4.3 years in the cemented group and 4.1 years in the cementless group, with a minimum follow-up of two years. Postoperative Charnley pain scores were identical for both groups, as was the incidence of limp. The final Charnley function score, however was significantly higher in the cementless group (5.6) than in the cemented group (5.1). One revision was performed in the cemented group, none in the cementless group. Complete demarcation of the bone-cement interface was presented in two cemented components and was associated with subsidence. Three cementless components had early subsidence, and two of these had complete radiopaque lines around the porous surface. None of these three patients, however, had unsatisfactory pain or function scores. The most important finding of this study is the equivalence of clinical results noted in both cemented and cementless THA as late as six years after operation.