Femoral Component Failure Research Articles

Outcomes are Compromised When Revising Patellofemoral Arthroplasties for Patellar Component Failures

BackgroundOutcomes of patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) conversion are reported to be similar to primary cases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cause for conversion from PFA to TKA correlated to outcomes when compared to a matched cohort. MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed to identify aseptic PFA to TKA conversions between 2000 and 2021. A cohort of primary TKAs was matched by patient sex, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiology score. Clinical outcomes, including range of motion, complication rates, and patient reported outcomes measurement information systems scores, were compared. Chi-squared, Fisher’s Exact, and t-tests were performed. There were 20 PFA to TKA conversions that met inclusion criteria and were matched to 60 primary cases. ResultsThere were 7 cases revised for arthritis progression, 5 for femoral component failure, 5 for patellar component failure, and 3 for patellar maltracking. PFA to TKA conversions for patellar failure (fracture, component loosening) had worse postoperative flexion (115 versus 127°, P = .023) and more complications of stiffness (40 versus 0%, P = .046) than primary TKAs. Conversions for failed patellar components had worse patient reported outcomes measurement information systems physical function (32 versus 45, P = .0046), physical health (42 versus 49, P = .0258), and pain scores (45 versus 24, P = .0465). No differences were found in rates of infection, manipulations under anesthesia, or reoperations. ConclusionPFA to TKA conversion outcomes were similar to primary TKA, except in patients who had failed patellar components and demonstrated worse postoperative range of motion and patient-reported outcomes. Surgeons should avoid thin patellar resections and extensive lateral releases to minimize patellar failures.

Modular Fluted Tapered Stems in Aseptic Oncologic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Game Changer?

BackgroundModular fluted tapered (MFT) stems are the most frequently used femoral component in revision total hip arthroplasties (THAs). Despite this, no data are available on how they perform in revision THA for oncologic salvage. This is a unique population, often with severe bone loss and prior radiation that extends the limits of uncemented femoral reconstruction. The aims of this study were to evaluate the implant survivorship, radiographic results, and clinical outcomes of MFT stems used for revision oncologic salvage. MethodsWe identified 17 patients treated initially with primary THA for an oncologic diagnosis (15 primary oncologic, 2 metastatic disease) who underwent subsequent femoral revision with an MFT stem. Mean age at revision was 66 years and 35% of patients were female. Mean follow-up was 4 years. Before revision, 5 of 17 had undergone local radiation. ResultsTen-year survivorship free from aseptic loosening was 100%. The survivorship free of any reoperation was 76%. There were no femoral component fractures. Three patients were revised for recurrent instability, and 1 patient underwent irrigation and debridement for an acute infection. At most recent follow-up, no patient had radiographic evidence of progressive femoral component subsidence or failure of osteointegration. The mean Harris Hip Score improved from 29 preoperatively to 76 postoperatively (P < .0001). ConclusionIn this series of patients with cancer, many of whom had severe bone loss and/or prior local radiation, being treated with revision THA, there were no revisions for femoral component loosening and no cases of implant fracture. Level of EvidenceIII.

Fatigue failure of the femoral component of a total knee arthroplasty: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Reports of fatigue failure of the femoral component of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is scanty in the literature. As a result, there are no clearly defined risk factors to aid us in predicting fatigue failure of an implant. Furthermore, these patients may present with non-specific knee pain, which may or may not be well tolerated, depending on the stability of the implant. We report a case of fatigue failure of a poorly cemented femoral component of a TKA in a 72-year-old female, approximately seven years after the initial surgery CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old female presented to our tertiary level arthroplasty unit with new-onset knee pain approximately seven years after undergoing a TKA at our unit. She reported hearing a crack six months earlier, while standing up from a seated position. She had initially presented to her local clinic, but the pathology was missed. She received revision surgery at our institution and was doing well at early follow-up. DISCUSSION: We reviewed the literature on fatigue failure of femoral components in TKA in an attempt to define risk factors. We also summarised all cases of femoral component fatigue failure in the English literature. CONCLUSION: Although femoral component fatigue failure in TKA is rare, the majority of cases have attributed the failure to poor surgical technique. Despite this, certain implants have been failing more often than others, and proposed mechanisms for this exist. Orthopaedic surgeons need to be aware of which implant designs are prone to failure, as well as how meticulous surgical technique can reduce the chances of fatigue failure. Level of evidence: Level 5 Keywords: femoral component, total knee arthroplasty, fatigue failure, stress fracture

Is a cementless fixation of the femoral component suitable for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty?

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) typically uses a hybrid design (cemented femoral component and cementless acetabular shell) but has recently been performed with fully cementless components. There is a paucity of information on the clinical performance of these cementless designs. The UCLA clinical scores, SF-12 quality of life scores, complication rates, survivorship and radiographic signs of loosening or gross stress shielding of 39 hips (39 male patients) implanted with cementless HRA were compared with those of 40 hips (37 male patients) implanted with hybrid HRA during the same time frame. There were no significant differences in postoperative clinical and quality of life scores, complication rates, or radiographic signs of loosening between the 2 groups. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier survivorship was 97.2% for the cementless group and 100% for the hybrid group. This difference was not significant (p = 0.3694). There were no femoral component failures in any of the 2 groups. At a mean follow-up of 6 years, there is no tangible difference between the performance of cementless HRA compared to hybrid HRA. The absence of learning curve associated with this device and the potential for better preservation of femoral neck bone mineral density suggest that this technology is well suited for young patients with good bone quality seeking to resume an active lifestyle including high-impact activities.

Impact of Femoral Stem Design on Failure After Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundAn increased rate of complications related to femoral component failure has been described with less invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study evaluated the incidence of femoral complications associated with the direct anterior approach for THA. MethodsRetrospective review was performed of the initial 1120 consecutive patients who underwent direct anterior THA by 2 surgeons. ResultsA total of 899 patients (80.3%) had a 2-year follow-up (range, 2-8 years). Complications within 90 days occurred in 20 patients (1.8%): 10 calcar fractures, 1 greater trochanter fracture, 1 canal perforation, 3 hematomas, 2 dislocations, 2 superficial, and 1 deep infection. Nine patients (1%) underwent revision: 5 for aseptic femoral loosening (0.55%), 1 for periprosthetic joint infection, 1 for dislocation, 1 for hip flexor irritation, and 1 for a damaged polyethylene liner.Of the 5 patients with aseptic femoral loosening, 3 had a short, mediolateral tapered stem, 1 cemented stem, and 1 S-ROM stem placed to bypass a canal perforation. There were no revisions for aseptic loosening in the collared, fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated compaction broached or triple tapered proximal fit and fill stem designs (70.6% of all stems). Revision rate for femoral loosening was significantly higher for tapered wedge over HA-coated, compaction broached stems (P < .005). ConclusionPain and function improved predictably with a 0.55% rate of femoral loosening at 2-year follow-up. Among collared, fully HA-coated and triple taper fit and fill femoral stems, there were no instances of revision for aseptic loosening vs 3 in the short stem, collarless mediolateral tapered group.

Fracture at the Modular Junction of a Cementless Revision Hip System: A Case Report.

Multiple cases of modular femoral component failure involving fatigue at the modular stem junction have been reported following revision total hip arthroplasty. In the present report, we describe what we believe to be the first case of catastrophic failure involving the Biomet Arcos revision system. The failure involved a young patient with an elevated body mass index and proximal bone deficiency. The possibility of this failure mechanism must be weighed against the potential advantages of modular cementless stems when planning for complex hip arthroplasty, especially in the young, active patient.

Femoral Component Survival in Hybrid Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Although the majority of North American surgeons perform total knee arthroplasty by cementing both the femoral and the tibial components, hybrid fixation with a press-fit femur and cemented tibia is an alternative form of total knee arthroplasty performed by some. Currently, there is a paucity of literature evaluating long-term outcomes after hybrid total knee arthroplasty. As such, the purpose of the current study was to describe the long-term results of total knee arthroplasty performed using the hybrid technique. The authors retrospectively reviewed a total of 77 hybrid total knee arthroplasties with at least 12 years of follow-up. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed to determine patient function and the incidence of femoral component failure after hybrid total knee arthroplasty. At the time of last follow-up, 76 of 77 (99%) of the femoral components remained in place without evidence of loosening. One femoral component failed due to aseptic loosening and was ultimately revised to a cemented femoral component without further complication. In addition, 1 tibial component and 2 patellar components failed due to aseptic loosening. Four tibial polyethylene liners were revised for polyethylene wear. In conclusion, press-fit fixation of the femoral component is a reliable and durable alternative to cemented fixation. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(3):181-186.].

Fracture of the Cam Mechanism of a Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Femoral Component: A Previously Unrecognized Mode of Failure

Fracture of the femoral component following total knee arthroplasty previously has been reported, although not as commonly as that of fracture failure of the tibial tray. Typically, implant failure has been related to reduced implant osseous support secondary to osteolysis, component design with resultant fatigue fracture, or manufacturing defects1-8. Previous studies have also implicated alignment and patient age, weight, and activity level in fracture failure of tibial components8-10. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents a previously unreported mechanism of fatigue fracture and femoral component failure in a total knee arthroplasty with an open-box posterior-stabilized design. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. After a diagnosis of bilateral osteoarthritis, a fifty-nine-year-old man (weight, 105.6 kg; height, 193 cm; body mass index, 28.3 kg/m2) underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (Fig. 1). NexGen Legacy Posterior Stabilized (LPS) femoral components (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) with 10-mm trabecular metal LPS monoblock tibial components were used. Both patellae were resurfaced, and all components were cemented in place. The undersurface of the tibial tray was cemented, but the trabecular metal pegs were left uncemented. Fig. 1 Anteroposterior (left) and lateral (right) radiographs of the left total knee arthroplasty six weeks postoperatively. The hospital course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home. Following dismissal, however, the motion of both knees regressed. This was attributed to overly aggressive physical therapy, and the patient subsequently underwent bilateral knee manipulation under anesthesia. He went on to do quite well and was very pleased with the knee function. At the one, two, and five-year follow-ups, the patient reported no pain or activity limitations. The range of motion was from 0° to 115° bilaterally. Radiographically, all components were reasonably aligned and …

Ceramic Femoral Component Fracture in Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis Using Fractography, Fourier-Transform Infrared Microscopy, Contact Radiography and Histology

Ceramic components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are evolving. We analyze the first case of BIOLOX delta ceramic femoral component fracture. A longitudinal midline fracture in the patellar groove was present, with an intact cement mantle and no bony defects. Fractographic analysis with laser scanning microscopy and white light interferometry showed no evidence of arrest lines, hackles, wake hackles, material flaws, fatigue or crack propagation. Analysis of periprosthetic tissues with Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy, contact radiography, histology, and subsequent digestion and high-speed centrifugation did not show ceramic debris. A macrophage-dominated response was present around polyethylene debris. We conclude that ceramic femoral component failure in this case was related to a traumatic event. Further research is needed to determine the suitability of ceramic components in TKA.

Risk factor analysis for early femoral failure in metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty: the effect of bone density and body mass index

BackgroundThe importance of appropriately selecting patients based on factors such as bone mineral density, body mass index, age, gender, and femoral component size has been demonstrated in many studies as an aid in decreasing the rate of revisions and improving the outcomes for patients after hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA); however, there are few published studies quantitatively specifying the potential risk factors that affect early femoral component failures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the specific causes of early femoral component failures in hip resurfacing separately and more carefully in order to develop strategies to prevent these failures, rather than excluding groups of patients from this surgical procedure.MethodsThis retrospective study included 373 metal-on-metal HRAs performed by a single surgeon using the vascular sparing posterior minimally invasive surgical approach. The average length of follow-up was 30 ± 6 months. In order to understand the causes of early femoral failure rate, a multivariable logistic regression model was generated in order to analyze the effects of bone mineral density (T-score), gender, diagnosis, body mass index, femoral implant fixation type, age, and femoral component size.ResultsThe average post-operative Harris hip score was 92 ± 11 points and the average post-operative UCLA score was 7 ± 2 points. There were three revisions due to femoral neck fracture and two for femoral component loosening. These occurred in two female and three male patients. In the multi-variable regression model, only T-score and body mass index showed significant effects on the failure rate of femoral components. Patients with a lower T-score and a higher body mass index had a significantly increased risk of early femoral component failure.ConclusionWe recommend that dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan T-score tests should be routinely performed on all hip resurfacing patients pre-operatively. If a patient has a low T-score (≤ -1.5), consideration should be given to additional precautions or treatments to alleviate his or her risk, especially when the patient has a higher body mass index (≥ 29 kg/m2).

Early Learning Experience with a Neck Stabilized THA Stem for Treating Osteoarthritis

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the most effective orthopaedic procedures with a very high success rate as measured by pain relief, improved function and patient satisfaction. However, since the introduction of total hip arthroplasty in the 1940s, a range of design philosophies for femoral components have demonstrated variable clinical results. Aseptic loosening, joint dislocation, thigh pain, bone resorption and femoral component failure have been some of the complications that plague this procedure.1,2 The past few years has seen an influx of so-called short stems with very little clarification as to design features, required surgical technique and long-term clinical outcomes. Most devices, meet with some level of learning curve and most systems do little in the way of warning new surgeons as to the perils and pitfalls during the initial surgical phase. This paper is designed to review the lessons learned during the first year of surgical experience with a new neck stabilized implant stem.1,2,3,4

Femoral component failure in canine cemented total hip replacement: a report of two cases

Femoral stem fracture is reported as an uncommon late complication of cemented total hip replacement in two dogs. In each case surgical salvage was achieved by extirpation of the proximal unstable component of the femoral stem, resulting in acceptable limb function. To the authors' knowledge, intramedullary femoral stem failure has not been previously reported after cemented total hip replacement in the dog. Factors believed to have contributed to implant failure in these dogs are discussed and compared with the same complication in humans.

Long-Term Survival and Reason for Revision of Wagner Resurfacing Hip Arthroplasty

The long-term survival of 270 Wagner resurfacing hip arthroplasties was determined. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Eleven hips remained unrevised at 15 to 22 years. Survival at 5, 10, and 16 years was 74%, 35%, and 17%, respectively. Survival in patients older than 55 years was better after 5 years than that for patients 55 years or younger ( P = .0067). Femoral neck fracture occurred in 2% of the total cohort. Femoral component failure was an early and midterm complication. Acetabular component loosening was the most common reason for revision. The proportion of cases revised for acetabular component failure increased with time. These long-term data in this large series provide important historical results against which the relative benefits of contemporary designs may be evaluated.

Twenty-Year Survivorship of Cementless Anatomic Graduated Component Total Knee Arthroplasty

There is a renewed interest in cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to improved biomaterials, desire for decreased surgical times and the potential increased longevity. Seventy-three cementless TKAs (AGC, Biomet, Warsaw, Ind) were performed from 1984 to 1986. All components were implanted without cement and without screws and obtained minimum 10 years of follow-up. No patient was lost to follow-up. Fifteen failures occurred, including 12 failed metal-backed patellae, and survivorship for aseptic loosening of any component was 76.4% at 20 years. Two tibial components failed of aseptic loosening at 1.1 and 2.2 years. Excluding patella failures, the survivorship for the cementless tibial component was 96.8% at 20 years. There were no femoral component failures. After eliminating patella failures, this cementless monoblock tibial component without screws demonstrated excellent 20-year survivorship.

Position of Hip Resurfacing Component Affects Strain and Resistance to Fracture in the Femoral Neck

Retrieval studies have suggested that the cause of femoral implant failure after metal-on-metal hip resurfacing is multifactorial. Both varus positioning of the femoral component and notching of the superior part of the femoral neck have been associated with femoral component failure. The hypotheses of this study were that placement of a femoral resurfacing component alters femoral neck loading and that the cortical strain pattern reflecting this loading is directly related to the spatial orientation of the resurfacing component. An additional hypothesis was that notching of the superior part of the neck during implantation results in a decreased resistance to neck fracture under axial loading. Varus, anteverted, retroverted, and anatomic positions of the femoral component were tested in sixty-four cadaveric femora. Simulated stance-phase loading was applied, and the shear strain on the femoral neck cortex was quantified with use of a photoelastic method. Preimplantation and postimplantation strain levels were compared over the entire neck region with use of generalized estimating equations. The influence of anteversion and retroversion of the component and notching of the superior part of the neck on the neck strength were evaluated. Placement of the implant in 10 degrees of varus alignment relative to anatomic positioning increased strain on the superior aspect of the neck by 19% to 23% compared with intact femora. Anteverted and retroverted placement of the implant produced elevated strain in the anterior-inferior and posterior-inferior aspects of the neck, respectively. Placement of the component stem in alignment with the anatomic neck axis decreased neck cortical strain 6% to 19% compared with intact femora. Notching of the superior aspect of the neck decreased neck strength by 21%. Relatively small deviations from anatomic alignment of a resurfacing hip component result in marked localized increases in loading of the femoral neck under conditions approximating single-limb stance. Neutral positioning of the femoral component results in localized strain reduction. Notching of the superior aspect of the femoral neck significantly reduces the resistance to fracture (p = 0.008).

Early Results of Conversion of a Failed Femoral Component in Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty

A theoretical advantage of resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip is that a failed femoral component can be safely and successfully revised to a total hip arthroplasty. To our knowledge, this advantage has not been demonstrated to date. Twenty-one metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasties in twenty patients with an average age of 50.2 years were converted to a conventional stemmed total hip arthroplasty because of femoral component failure. In eighteen hips, the acetabular component was retained, and in three hips both components were revised. The results in the resurfacing conversion group were compared with those in a group of fifty-eight patients who had undergone sixty-four primary total hip arthroplasties that had been performed during the same time-period by the same surgeon. Clinical evaluations (the Harris hip score, the University of California at Los Angeles pain, walking, and activity scores and the Short Form-12 score) and radiographic evaluations were performed. The average duration of follow-up was forty-six months for the conversion arthroplasty group and fifty-seven months for the primary conventional total hip arthroplasty group. There was no significant difference between the conversion arthroplasty group and the conventional arthroplasty group with regard to operative time, blood loss, or complication rates. At the time of the most recent follow-up, with the numbers studied, there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the mean Harris hip score; the University of California at Los Angeles pain, walking, and activity score; or the SF-12 score. As assessed radiographically, the quality of component fixation and the alignment of the reconstruction were equivalent between the two groups. There had been no instances of aseptic loosening of the femoral or the acetabular component in either group, and there had been no dislocations after conversion of a resurfacing arthroplasty. Conversion of a hip resurfacing with a femoral-side failure to a total hip arthroplasty appears to be comparable with primary total hip arthroplasty in terms of surgical effort, safety, and early clinical outcomes. Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Early Results of Conversion of a Failed Femoral Component in Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty

Background: A theoretical advantage of resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip is that a failed femoral component can be safely and successfully revised to a total hip arthroplasty. To our knowledge, this advantage has not been demonstrated to date. Methods: Twenty-one metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasties in twenty patients with an average age of 50.2 years were converted to a conventional stemmed total hip arthroplasty because of femoral component failure. In eighteen hips, the acetabular component was retained, and in three hips both components were revised. The results in the resurfacing conversion group were compared with those in a group of fifty-eight patients who had undergone sixty-four primary total hip arthroplasties that had been performed during the same time-period by the same surgeon. Clinical evaluations (the Harris hip score, the University of California at Los Angeles pain, walking, and activity scores and the Short Form-12 score) and radiographic evaluations were performed. The average duration of follow-up was forty-six months for the conversion arthroplasty group and fifty-seven months for the primary conventional total hip arthroplasty group. Results: There was no significant difference between the conversion arthroplasty group and the conventional arthroplasty group with regard to operative time, blood loss, or complication rates. At the time of the most recent follow-up, with the numbers studied, there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the mean Harris hip score; the University of California at Los Angeles pain, walking, and activity score; or the SF-12 score. As assessed radiographically, the quality of component fixation and the alignment of the reconstruction were equivalent between the two groups. There had been no instances of aseptic loosening of the femoral or the acetabular component in either group, and there had been no dislocations after conversion of a resurfacing arthroplasty. Conclusions: Conversion of a hip resurfacing with a femoral-side failure to a total hip arthroplasty appears to be comparable with primary total hip arthroplasty in terms of surgical effort, safety, and early clinical outcomes. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Femoral Component Failure in Hybrid Total Knee Arthroplasty at 17 Years

Hybrid total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was introduced in the 1980s in hopes of gaining the theoretical advantages of osseous ingrowth of the femoral component, while avoiding problematic tibial fixation seen in cementless systems. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term results in a consecutive group of patients who underwent hybrid TKA.

Bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in aseptic loosening after total hip arthroplasty

The aims of this study were to determine whether subjects with aseptic loosening after total hip arthroplasty (THA) have regional differences in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) and systemic biochemical markers of bone turnover compared to subjects with successful implants. Proximal femoral and pelvic BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone turnover markers were assayed in 49 subjects 12.6±4.3 (mean±SD) years after cemented THA. Femoral BMD was lower in Gruen zones 2, 5, 6, and 7 in subjects with a loose femoral implant ( n=17) compared to those ( n=32) with fixed femoral implants ( P<0.05 all comparisons). This BMD difference was greatest (−31%, P=0.02) in the proximal and medial region of the femur. Subjects with femoral loosening had higher levels of the bone resorption marker N-telopeptides of type-I collagen ( P=0.02) than those with a fixed femoral implant. No differences in pelvic BMD or bone turnover markers were found between subjects with loose ( n=18) versus fixed ( n=31) pelvic implants. This study suggests that failure of femoral components after cemented THA is associated with region-specific decreases in BMD and an increase in urinary excretion of N-telopeptide cross-links of type-I collagen. These surrogate outcome markers may be of value in monitoring response to antiresorptive therapies used to treat periprosthetic osteolysis, although the diagnosis of aseptic loosening remains clinical and radiological.

Impaction bone grafting using freeze-dried allograft in revision hip arthroplasty

We report on 32 patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty using cemented components and impaction allografting with processed freeze-dried bone. The survivorship with this type of graft at a mean follow-up of 4 years was 91%. There were no femoral component failures, although revision was required in 3 patients because of failure of the acetabulum. Freeze-dried graft can require prolonged rehydration for satisfactory impaction. The results of impaction bone grafting with freeze-dried bone alone have been satisfactory, although we recommend caution in its use alone in the hostile acetabulum.