A comparison of a short versus a conventional femoral cementless stem in total hip arthroplasty in patients 70 years and older

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between a short femoral cementless stem and a conventional femoral cementless stem in total hip arthroplasty in patients 70 years and older. METHODS: From December 2011 and July 2013, we retrospectively reviewed 50 patients (55 hips) 70 years and older treated with a short femoral cementless stem and 53 patients (58 hips) 70 years and older treated with a conventional femoral cementless stem. Their mean age was 74 ± 13.2 years and 75 ± 10.4 years, respectively. The mean follow-up was 40 ± 3.6 months and 42 ± 5.2 month, respectively. They were pre- and postoperatively evaluated by the clinical and radiological examination. RESULTS: There was no difference in terms of average operative time, average estimated blood loss, and average hemoglobin at discharge between the short stem and the conventional stem. No patients with the short stem had intra-operative fracture, but five patients with the conventional stem had intra-operative fracture. At final follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference in Harris Hip Score, and radiographic review level between two stems. No hip with the short stem had thigh pain, but six hips with the conventional stem had thigh pain at the final follow-up. No component was revised for aseptic loosening in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that both short cementless stem and conventional cementless stem provided stable fixation and achieved a satisfactory result in patients 70 years and older and the short cementless stem had a low incidence of thigh pain and intra-operative fracture.