Loosening of the femoral component after total hip replacement. The thin black line and the sinking hip
- 1 May 1986
- journal article
- Published by British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume
- Vol. 68-B (3) , 392-397
- https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620x.68b3.3733803
Abstract
Review of the radiographs of 882 consecutive metal-to-polyethylene hip replacements after a mean follow-up of 6.8 years showed 72 cases (8%) of aseptic femoral loosening, all of which showed a lucent zone or black line between metal and cement. In 97% of the series this appeared within two years of the arthroplasty. Progress of loosening was unpredictable and only 24% had significant symptoms. Improved technique with methylmethacrylate cement in Stanmore prostheses had reduced loosening after two years from 7.9% to 0.4%. Methods of detection of early loosening are discussed.Keywords
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