Stability of fused versus nonfused THA femoral impaction grafts.

Impaction grafting for THA involves compacting morselized cancellous bone (MCB) into a cavitary defect to build up bone stock. Ideally, the MCB subsequently remodels into a new contiguous cancellous lattice. A recent laboratory model of MCB fusion allows simulating an impaction graft construct in this ideal eventual clinical state. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relative stability of femoral impaction graft constructs in which the MCB has fused versus that for MCB in the freshly impacted nonfused condition. Cemented femoral impaction graft constructs were created in composite femurs. For fused constructs, the MCB was mixed with an amine epoxy that causes the MCB to set up into a contiguous structure biomechanically comparable to intact cancellous bone in compression. The constructs were loaded with 500,000 physiologic gait cycles. Three-dimensional motion was measured between the femur and the stem. The fused femoral impaction grafts were much more stable than the nonfused grafts at the proximal stem location, but MCB fusion had only a modest effect on distal stem stability. These results indicate that most of the opportunity to reduce femoral stem micromotion and migration lies proximal, and that steps to enhance impaction graft remodeling and fusion are most effectively focused proximally. (c) 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.