Intraoperative complications in total hip arthroplasty using a new cementless femoral implant (SP-CL(®))

BACKGROUND: Considering the excellent results already achieved in total hip arthroplasty (THA), new implants must be at least as safe as currently used implants and lead to longer survival. A new cementless femoral stem, SP-CL(®), has been introduced. The aim of this study is to evaluate intraoperative complications and assess the risk factors of THA with the SP-CL(®) implant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All THA patients who were operated on using the SP-CL(®) (LINK, Hamburg, Germany) implant between 2015 and 2018 were included in the analysis. Data were collected from medical records from national and hospital electronic databases. Radiological measurements were made from standard pre- and postoperative radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 222 THA were performed using the SP-CL(®) implant. The average age of the patients was 56 years (14–77 years). There were 1 transient sciatic nerve injury, 1 acetabular fracture, and 11 (5.0%) intraoperative femoral fractures (IFF), of which 7 were treated with cerclage wire or titanium band during the operation while the other fractures were treated conservatively. None of the IFF patients were revised due to fracture during the follow-up period (one revision due to infection). The radiographic morphology of proximal femur was associated with increased risk of IFF (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrate a 5% incidence of IFF when using the LINK SP-CL(®) femoral stem in THA. The radiographic morphology of the proximal femur was an important predictor of IFF and should be assessed when using SP-CL(®). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.