Early- to mid-term outcome of a short, cementless, titanium, flat, tapered stem for primary total hip arthroplasty: an independent series

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to: (1) describe perioperative complications amongst patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a short cementless, titanium, flat, tapered stem; (2) estimate this stem’s early- to mid-term survival; (3) identify factors associated with revision arthroplasty; and (4) describe femoral remodelling at minimum 6 years postoperatively. Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent THA using a Taperloc Microplasty stem (Zimmer-Biomet, Warsaw, Indiana, USA) with minimum 2-year follow-up was performed. Surgeries were performed by 1 of 6, non-designer, arthroplasty surgeons between 2014 and 2018. Outcomes included perioperative complications including revision arthroplasty, and survival. Cox analysis was used to analyse the effect of different factors on risk of revision arthroplasty. Radiographs with 6-year follow-up served to describe femoral remodelling. Results: In 1205 patients, followed for 5.1 ± 1.4 years, the incidence of perioperative complication was 5.2% for which 29 patients (2.4%) required revision arthroplasty. The 5- and 7-year survival rates were 97.8% (95% CI, 96.9–98.5) and 97.0% (95% CI, 95.6–98.0), respectively. The only factor associated with revision arthroplasty was proximal femur morphology, as per Dorr classification (HR 1.24 [95%CI, 1.09–1.41]; p = 0.005). During radiographic assessment, 12% of patients showed ⩾25% of relative change in cortical thickness in Gruen zones 3 or 5. We observed calcar remodelling in 50% of radiographs while 10% showed presence of a pedestal sign. Conclusions: The 7-year survivorship of the Taperloc Microplasty stem is within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Patients ⩽65 years with osteoarthritis and Dorr A/B femoral morphology may be ideal candidates for THA with this stem. Femoral remodelling is common and not associated with adverse outcome.