[Quantitative analysis of autopsy femurs with cemented hip joint endoprosthesis]

48 retrieved femora with fixed cemented hip arthroplasties were sectioned horizontally. Bone sections of the whole cross-sectional area were studied morphometrically. No significant bone changes were found distal to the lesser trochanter, but frequently within the region of the calcar femoris. The interface between bone and cement mainly consists of a thin (< 25 microns) connective tissue layer, a "close bone/cement-contact" was found in 10 to 20%. Analysis of segmental loosening indicates that the implant should be fixed well along the whole stem. The bone alterations found are not very extensive and yield no explanation for aseptic loosening, but the frequently poor cement-fixation does.