Low-vs high-viscosity cement in hip arthroplasty: No radiographic difference in 226 arthrosis cases followed for 5 years

Abstract

In 1984 and 1985, 352 hips were randomly assigned to total hip arthroplasty with either low-or high-viscosity cement at 5 Swedish orthopedic departments. Of the 267 hips finally included in the study, 226 were examined clinically and radiographically after 54–77 months.

Radiographically, 21 definite stem loosenings and 1 probable stem loosening were observed (10 percent) and 4 additional stems had been exchanged before the 5-year examination. In the survivorship analysis, 261 stem prostheses were included and using this method, 7 percent were radiographically loose after 5 years. There were 4 definitely loose and 8 probably loose acetabular cups. No difference was found between cement of high and low viscosity with regard to prosthetic fixation.