Cemented revision total hip arthroplasties in patients younger than 55 years old. A multicenter evaluation of second-generation cementing technique.

The results of all cemented first-time revisions in Sweden performed in patients younger than 55 years of age, during the period 1984-1986, are reported. The revisions were performed by the average orthopaedic surgeon in 25 hospitals distributed throughout Sweden. Second-generation femoral cementing technique was used. One third of the acetabular revisions were performed with pressurized cement. The reason for revision was aseptic loosening. Seventy hips in 68 patients were reviewed at an average follow-up period of 7 years (range, 4-10 years). The average age of the patients at the time of revision surgery was 47 years. Forty-eight cups and 57 stems were revised using cement. Survival analysis, with revision for aseptic loosening as the endpoint, suggests an overall 76% survival rate after 8 years. The survival rate for the cup was 80%, and for the stem, 85%. The radiographic evaluation revealed that the cement mantle was inadequate in many revisions. Localized osteolysis was rare. Clinical data were reported for 55 (53 patients) non-revised hips. Thirty-five hips were without pain or slightly painful. Forty patients limped when walking. Forty-three patients were satisfied with the revised hip. These results using second-generation femoral cementing technique are better than those reported with first-generation technique, but the failure rate in this young patient population is too high. The search for a more durable fixation in revision total hip athroplasty for young patients with long life expectancy is ongoing. These results emphasize that there is a need for centralization to gain experience in extended clinical research and to further improve surgical and cementing techniques.