title: TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY WITH BIOMEC PROSTHESIS: 20-YEAR FOLLOW-UP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes from total hip arthroplasty using the Biomec prosthesis over a 20-year period (1988 to 2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were evaluated clinically in accordance with the Merle d'Aubigné and Postel functional classification, and underwent anteroposterior (AP) radiography of the pelvis and the operated joint in lateral view. The variables evaluated were acetabular and femoral osteolysis, polyethylene wear, nail migration, follow-up and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 10.6 years (range 4 to 21 years). The sample consisted of 84 patients (32 men and 52 women) and the mean preoperative age was 47 years. We found that 88% of the results from the clinical evaluation were good or excellent. In relation to the radiological findings, 92.5% of the results were good. The mean wear on the polyethylene was 1.4 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the Biomec prosthesis in this cohort showed good clinical and radiographic results.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist R4 in the Hip Surgery Group of the Orthopedics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Benedet
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Scheidt
authors.affiliation: Substitute Professor in the Department of Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Contracted Physician at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and Preceptor of the Hip Surgery Group at HCPA.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosito
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Department of Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Head of the Orthopedics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and Head of the Hip Surgery Group at HCPA.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: De Souza Macedo
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Postgraduate Program on Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS); Contracted Physician and Preceptor of the Hip Surgery Group at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA).
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Galia
keywords: Arthroplasty, hip; Biomechanics; Hip/surgery