PRIMARY TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY WITH THE KARL-ZWEYMULLER FIRST-GENERATION CEMENTLESS PROSTHESIS - A 5-YEAR TO 9-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

A consecutive series of 72 primary total hip arthroplasties were perfo rmed in 70 patients using the first-generation Zweymuller cementless t itanium press-fit femoral and threaded acetabular components (AlloPro, Baar, Switzerland). Twelve hips were excluded from the study because of insufficient follow-up evaluation, including one patient who underw ent a socket revision within the first 2 weeks. Sixty total hip arthro plasties with an average follow-up period of 80 months (range, 60-108 months) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical results were graded ex cellent or good in 54 cases (90%), fair in 3 (5%), and poor in 3 (5%) with 2 early implant failures (1 acetabular cup and 1 femoral stem in 2 hips). Cumulative survival rates at the 6- to 7-year interval, with failure defined as revision and/or loosening are 98.47% (SD, 2.0%) for the femoral component (1 single septic and loose stem, revised at 5 y ears), 97.08% (SD, 2.72%) for the screw ring (2 unstable but only 1 re vised), and 95.56% (SD, 3.36%) for both components. This encouraging e xperience with the first-generation prosthesis supports the rationale for continued use of the new Zweymuller Alloclassic stem and open-back screw ring available since 1988.