Radiological Findings and Clinical Results of 102 Thrust-Plate Femoral Hip Prostheses

We report the radiological and clinical outcome of 102 consecutive femoral hip arthroplasty we prospectively followed up in 84 patients using the third generation of the thrust-plate prosthesis with a mean period of follow-up of 58 (range, 26-100) months. Four implants were revised: 2 because of an infection and 2 because of aseptic loosening. The thrust-plate prosthesis, which allows preservation of part of the femoral neck, was used in younger patients, 80% were younger than 60 years. In 95 implants, contact was maintained between thrust plate and underlying bone, and in only 3 instances, without any clinical manifestation, did the bone retract from the thrust plate to the extent that a gap appeared. The extent of radiologically evident bone contact with the flat surface of the thrust plate, as a consequence of the bone remodeling behavior, is described and retrospectively classified. The average Harris hip score increased from 51 points preoperatively to 96 points postoperatively at the last follow-up. Survivorship analysis according to Kaplan-Meier showed a survival rate of 98% after 6 years, with no further losses up to the end of the 8-year follow-up period.