OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical results of anterior windowing of the femur to remove the femoral component and cement in revision total hip arthroplasty.

METHODSFrom September 1999 to May 2011, 31 revision cases received anterior windowing of the femur in operation. There were 12 male and 19 female, with the average age in operation was 61.8 years (from 40 to 83 years). The reason for revision included aseptic loosening in 12 cases, infection in 4 cases, breakage of femoral stem in 11 cases and acetabular liner wear in 4 hemi-arthroplasties. Nine cases were cemented and 22 were non-cemented for the primary stem. The position of the window located in the anterior femur with 6 cases of complete windowing from the proximal to the end of the stem. Another 25 cases received regional windowing just around the tip of the stem. In revisions, non-cemented rectangular revision stem were used for 27 cases and two-stage surgery were used for 4 infection cases.

RESULTSIn all revisions, femoral stems and cement fragments were removed successfully and safely without any complications of fracture and perforation of new stems. All femur windows showed successfully union for average 14 weeks (12-18 weeks). There were some postoperative complications. One recurrent dislocation was treated using plaster external fixation for 8 weeks. One case with dislocation and fracture along with the window was revised by cerclage fixation. One periprosthetic fracture due to trauma was treated by cerclage fixation. The average Harris score of the hip improved to 83 points (75 to 90 points) at an average 5.5 years follow-up (0.5 to 12.0 years). Twenty six cases were completely followed up. Revision femoral stems were well-fixed without any subsidence or loosening.

CONCLUSIONSAnterior windowing of the femur is a proven technique which can be used to remove femoral stem and cement conveniently and safely without any fractures in revision total hip arthroplasty.