title: The short and "shorter" of it: >1750 tapered titanium stems at 6- to 88-month follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Femoral fixation in THA can be achieved with different design rationales. Our hypothesis was that two short titanium flat-tapered stems would demonstrate similar stability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2005 and May 2012, 849 short (135-170mm), titanium flat stems ("Short") were used in THA. Between July 2005 and May 2012, 902 similar, but 35-mm shorter, stems ("Shorter") were utilized. Harris Hip Score, radiographic, and survivorship data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survivorship of the "Short" stems was 99.1% at 7years. Eight of 849 stems have been revised: 4 for loosening, 3 for fracture, and 1 for infection. Harris Hip Score improved from 41.6 to 88.9. In the "Shorter" group, 9 of 902 have been revised: 6 for fracture/loosening, 2 for infection, and 1 for instability. HHs improved from 43.7 to 92.0. No statistically significant differences were noted in revision rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This comparison study of short titanium tapered stems has confirmed similar >99% survivorship in >1750 THA stems at 6- to 88 (mean 36)-month follow-up. Early periprosthetic fracture, although rare (0.5%), was more likely to occur in older patients.
authors.affiliation: Texas Center for Joint Replacement, Plano, Texas.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barrington
authors.forename: Roger H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Emerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery*; D057068:Periprosthetic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium
keywords: THA; periprosthetic fracture; tapered titanium stems