H. Effenberger et al., Experimental study of bone-implant contact with a parabolic acetabular component (Hofer-Imhof), ARCH ORTHOP, 120(3-4), 2000, pp. 160-165
Incomplete bone contact with threaded acetabular components is usually attr
ibutable to the tapered thread design and sclerotic bone, and might be the
reason for early loosening. The self-tapping flat threads of the Hofer-Imho
f cup allow accurate insertion without incarceration, even in sclerotic bon
e. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this threaded cup design based on di
gitized measurements of bone contact area, six Hofer-Imhof cups were implan
ted into three human cadavers. The bone contact area at the threads was dig
itally analyzed on cadaver-explanted cups cut into horizontal and coronal s
ections. In cups fixed with ideal form fit, bone contact was 31.6% (range 8
-55%) at the threads and 28.5% (range 0-49%) be tween the threads on averag
e. In cups with incomplete bone contact secondary to insufficient reaming,
the bone contact area averaged 27.4% (range 10-44%) at the threads. In scle
rotic bone, the highest bone contact at the threads was 69%. The threads we
re the first part of the cup to achieve primary bone contact. Factors contr
ibuting to poor contact were incomplete reaming, sections which passed thro
ugh the incisura of the acetabulum, and incomplete contact with the medial
aspect of the acetabulum. The aim was to achieve complete bone contact. Bec
ause of the higher contact areas observed in sclerotic bone, some sclerotic
bone should remain after reaming.