Short-Term Results of Ultra-Short Anatomic vs Ultra-Short Non-Anatomic Proximal Loading Uncemented Femoral Stems

BACKGROUND Question arises as to whether rigid fixation of ultra-short anatomic or ultra-short non-anatomic proximal loading uncemented femoral stem can be obtained without diaphyseal stem fixation. The purpose of this study is to compare the short-term clinical results, radiographic results, revision and survival rates, and complication rates of ultra-short anatomic versus ultra-short non-anatomic uncemented femoral stems. METHODS This study consisted of 50 patients (56 hips) in the ultra-short anatomic uncemented stem group (mean age 61.4 ± 14.7 years) and 50 patients (56 hips) in the ultra-short non-anatomic uncemented stem group (mean age 59.5 ± 15.2 years). The mean follow-up was 3.4 years (range 3-4) in the ultra-short anatomic stem group and 3.5 years (range 3-4) in the ultra-short non-anatomic stem group. RESULTS At the final follow-up, the mean Harris hip scores (92 vs 93 points), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis scores (16 vs 15 points), University of California at Los Angeles activity scores (6.5 vs 6.8 points), the incidence of thigh pain (0% vs 4%), revision rates (0% vs 4%), aseptic loosening rate (0% vs 2%), and complication rates (2% vs 4%) were not significantly different between 2 groups. CONCLUSION Both ultra-short anatomic and ultra-short non-anatomic proximal loading uncemented femoral stems obtained rigid fixation without diaphyseal stem fixation in the short-term follow-up. This finding suggests that an ultra-short anatomic uncemented femoral stem can be replaced with an ultra-short non-anatomic uncemented stem to reduce inventory of the femoral stems, and consequently reduce manufacturing and delivery cost of these femoral stems.