Primary exeter total hip arthroplasty in patients with small femurs: a minimal of 10 years follow-up.

One hundred and twelve hips in 101 Chinese patients received primary cemented Exeter total hip arthroplasty (Howmedica, Hong Kong). The implant had a collarless, double-tapered and polished stem. Seventy-five hips in 67 patients were available for assessment. The average age at operation was 63.7 years. The commonest diagnosis was avascular necrosis. The average follow-up was 12.8 years (range, 10 to 16.5 years). The Harris score improved from a preoperative average of 39.8 to 82.3 at the last follow-up. Stem subsidence within the cement mantle occurred in 9.3% of the cases and none of these stems had other evidence of loosening. Eight hips (six stems and two cups) in seven patients were revised because of loosening at five to 14 years postoperatively. The survival rate was 93.3% and 86% at 10 and 15 years respectively. Oversized stems and incomplete cement mantle might account for the loosening. Stems of a smaller size have been made available to this population and hopefully this will improve the results further.