Freeze-dried proximal femur allografts in revision total hip arthroplasty. A preliminary report.

Failure of cemented total hip arthroplasty can emerge from several causes and may be associated with severe bone loss in the proximal femur with a marked diminution in functional capacity of the limb. This is a preliminary report of 14 patients with revision operations for failed total hip arthroplasty. Freeze-dried allograft bone ws implanted for restoration of extensive bone loss in the proximal for restoration of extensive bone loss in the proximal femur. All 14 patients were operated on to salvage failed cemented total hip arthroplasties. Allografts were employed only for large proximal femoral deficiencies. In these patients the alternatives were either an unstable excision arthroplasty or a femoral deficient prosthesis. After revision, all patients had complete bony union and ambulated with the assistance of a cane with greatly increased function and pain relief. There were no infection. Functionally, the patients have shown marked improvement. At this time there is no radiologic evidence of resorption of the graft. The use of bone allografts in this procedure has been encouraging to date; however, the follow-up period has been only 16-30 months. the success or failure of this procedure will be determined in time.