CHANGES IN THE SURFACE OF MCKEE-FARRAR AR THROPLASTIES

The still unsolved problem of aseptic loosening in total hip arthropla sties with identification of polyethylene wear particles as one of its major causes, has led to reintroduction of metal-to-metal articulatio ns, as indicated by a few good clinical long-term results with all-met al McKee-Farrar arthroplasties. In this paper, data on 145 patients fr om a population of more than 1400, all with implanted McKee-Farrars, w ho underwent revision surgery for aseptic loosening, are collected and analysed for dependence of duration to brands of the implants and pos ition of the cups. The surface of each of 55 revised implants was meas ured using a 3-D device. The results showed no interdependence between time of loosening, brand inclination of the cup and deviation in shap e of ball and cup. Additionally, the deviations in shape were slight.