Uncertainty and lack of data complicate use of short-stem total hip implants (OrthoSuperSite)
Hip implants featuring a shortened femoral stem are designed to preserve bone stock during total hip arthroplasty while offering a more physiologic replication of normal human anatomy compared with longer stem prostheses. Nearly a decade after their release, surgeons continue to experiment with their use and some find them as effective as longer stem hip prostheses.
Surgeons discuss these points:
Preserve normal anatomy
The learning curve
Rest fit vs. press fit
Minimally invasive surgery
Younger, more active patients
Long-term data lacking
“We have implanted over 2,000 [short stems] and have had excellent early results and function similar to their long stem counterparts,” Keith R. Berend, MD, of Joint Implant Surgeons, Inc. in New Albany, Ohio, said.
However, there is a growing sense among orthopedic surgeons that, despite a strong theoretical basis for their use, clinical data may be as of yet lacking on whether short-stem hip implants fulfill their potential. Questions remain about what types of patients benefit from their use, the optimal surgical technique for ...
