Factors in the Mechanical Failure of the Femoral Component in Total Hip Prosthesis:Report of Six Fatigue Fractures of the Femoral Stern and Results of Experimental Loading Tests
Year: 1974
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Accepted 9.i.70Total hip prostheses as a method of surgical treatment of osteoarthrosis are being implanted at a significantly increasing rate.Although the short term results are promising, the late results and late complications are as yet not well documented.A s f a r as mechanical problems are concerned, attention has been focused on wear a t the articulating surfaces and skeletal fixation of the prosthesis.This paper is concerned with another type of mechanical problem : fatigue fractures of the femoral stem.A report on the operative, radiological and metallurgical findings in our cases of stem fracture is presented.Experimental loading tests have been conducted in an attempt to clarify some aspects of this mechanical failure. C L I N I C A I, M A T E R I A LFrom a total of 50 rcplacement arthroplasties of the Charnley-hluller type, Co, Cr, Ma, casting alloy: Protasul (C 0.2-0.3 per cent -S 1 per cent -Mn 1 per cent -Fe 2 per cent -Mo 5-6 per cent -Cr 25.5-29 per cent -Co Rest) there were fatigue fractures of the femoral stem in six cases.We have not, as yet, experienced this complication in any patients from an earlier series of McKec-Farrar or a later series of Charnley stainless steel prostheses.All six patients had apparently had successful rcplacemcnts and then experienced a sudden onset of pain and a feeling of instability in the affected leg on weight-
Source: Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica
Institution: KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2065482413