[Radiologic changes of the bones following cement-free implantation of hip joint prosthesis in inflammatory rheumatic diseases].

The postoperative x-rays of 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondylitis who had received a cement-free fixed total hip endoprosthesis were examined. The postoperative period ranged from 3 months to four years. In the region of the acetabular component an increasing rate of osseous integration in relation to the postoperative time was observed. Adaptive modeling changes in the area of the femoral stem were found as radiolucent lines parallel to the implant. Also a densification of cancellous bone and cortical hypertrophy as well as cortical rarefaction was noticeable. The bone in rheumatoid arthritis or spondylitis reacts to the implantation of a cementless fixed total hip prosthesis similar as the bone in osteoarthritis.