Acetabular and femoral fixation 15 years after cemented total hip surgery

Total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 51 years of age remains controversial. The authors report results in 47 hips in 40 patients at an average followup of 15 years. Second generation femoral cementing techniques were used. Special attention was given to studying the differences between the outcome of acetabular versus femoral fixation. The patient group included 11 in whom custom components were used and 13 who had structural autografts for severe acetabular dysplasia. One femoral component and 10 acetabular components were revised for aseptic loosening. After 15 years, improved cementing techniques produced a marked reduction in the rate of femoral aseptic loosening. Loss of fixation of cemented acetabular components was common.