Proximal femoral allografts for reconstruction of bone stock in revision arthroplasty of the hip.

Proximal femoral allografts have been used to restore uncontained circumferential defects of the multiply revised total hip arthroplasty. These grafts are used with long stem components that are cemented to the graft but not the host. The junction of host and graft is stabilized by the stem and a step cut with cerclage wires. Autograft bone is placed at the junctions to induce union. Full weightbearing is delayed until union occurs between the graft and the host femur, usually by 3 months. One hundred sixty-eight structural femoral allografts were done; average followup was 4.8 years as of January 1, 1995. Success was defined as an increase in the clinical score of at least 20 points, a stable implant, and no need for further surgery related to the allograft. The success rate in 130 patients with at least 2 years followup is 85%. There have been 17 revisions in 16 patients: 3 revisions for infection, 8 for dislocation, 5 for nonunion, and 1 for pain. The revision rate is 10.1%. Radiographic analysis showed 7 nonunions, minor resorption in 6 patients, and significant resorption in 1 patient. All implants are stable with no lucent lines. The results support using this technique for full circumferential segmental proximal femoral defects in revision hip arthroplasty.