ADOPTIVE BONE REMODELING DUE TO IMPLANTAT ION OF VARIOUS STEMS IN TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Purpose of the study was to evaluate radiological alterations of the f emoral bone after implantation of two different prostheses. Methods: 8 1 patients with 87 hips underwent total hip arthroplasty by using the Zweymuller(R)-stem fixating in the medullary canal, and 175 patiens wi th 182 ABG(R)-stems with a proximally fixating, anatomical design were followed up clinically and radiologically. Results: Adaptive bone rem odelling in Zweymuller(R)-stems showed in some patients thickening of the cortex of the femur and proximal bone-stock loss; reactive lines w ere seen in the proximal areas surrounding the prosthesis. Radiographs of patients with ABG(R)-stems showed these lines in the distal, smoot h part of the prosthesis and cancellous densification occurred in the area of load transfer distal to the trochanteric region. Conclusion: T ypical x-ray findings due to various stem designs were identified and can be transferred to other cementless prostheses and should be consid ered if there is a suspicion of aseptic loosening.