OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of extensively porous-coated femoral stem in revision of total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODSFrom January 1999 to December 2003, fifteen hips of fifteen cases received revision of THA with extensively porous-coated femoral stem. There were six males and nine females. The average age was 66 years (ranging 58-82 years). The reason for the revision was aseptic loosening in 10 cases, septic loosening in 2, femoral shaft fracture around loose implant in 2, and femoral revision for malposition of the femoral component in 1. All the patients were clinically evaluated using Harris hip score and radiographically evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively at regular follow-up intervals.

RESULTSNo patients were lost for follow-up. The average length of follow-up was 2.3 years (range, 1-5 years). The average preoperative Harris hip score was 42 points, which was improved to 89 points at latest follow-up. The latest follow-up showed that bone in-growth occurred in fourteen stems and solid fibrous fixation in one. Complications consisted of femoral shaft fracture in two cases (1 undisplaced distal femur fracture and 1 cortical perforation at the tip of the prosthesis), and postoperative dislocation in one. There was no mechanical failure of the stem in this study.

CONCLUSIONSSatisfactory results of short-term clinical and radiographic follow-up have been achieved in using extensively porous-coated femoral stem for revision of THA. It should be noticed that the straight, 203 mm stem should be used with caution in short people.