We carried out 102 hip revision arthroplasties using an uncemented iso
elastic femoral stem on 92 patients between 1985 and 1989. The proxima
l femoral bone stock had deteriorated in 45%. Eleven patients died dur
ing the mean follow up of 5.7 years. The femoral component has been re
vised again for loosening in 13, for infection in 5 and for dislocatio
n in 3. Radiographs of 70 hips showed incipient migration at 3 months
in 20, and at the time of review 27 hips had migrated 5 mm or more. Ni
ne stems had migrated more than 8 mm and were judged to be loose. Ther
e were II fractures before operation and 15 during operation; they all
healed. Slight cortical hypertrophy of not more than 2 mm was present
in most cases. Three patients (4 hips) were excluded because of sever
e systemic illness. Of the remaining 66 hips, the clinical outcome was
excellent in 18%, good in 50%, fair in 26% and poor in 6%. The isoela
stic stent is associated with poor primary fixation which is indicated
by early subsidence. The results, with a total failure rate of 33%, a
re unsatisfactory and the isoelastic femoral stem used in this series
cannot be recommended for revision operations.