Fixation Choices for Primary Hip and Knee Applications

Secure fixation of joint prosthesis components may be achieved using either a cemented or cementless method. Cementless fixation is the preferred technique for hip components. Hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated cups and stems provide good clinical results and appear to block transport of wear debris. Cemented fixation is preferred at the knee. However, HA or HA/tricalcium phosphate (TCP)-coated components provide equivalent stability and good clinical results in the medium term. A promising approach is the use of bone morphogenetic proteins in combination with HA coatings.