Extensively porous-coated femoral revision for severe femoral bone loss: minimum 10-year follow-up

Abstract

Of 275 femoral revisions done at our institution from 1982 to 1986, we identified 34 patients (35 hips) who represented the senior author's (C.A.E., Sr.) most difficult revision cases as a result of extensive femoral bone loss at least 10 cm below the lesser trochanter. The patients were revised with fully porous-coated femoral components >or=190 mm. We evaluated 25 of the patients (26 hips) who had a minimum 10-year follow-up (mean, 13.3 years). Survivorship was 89% at 10 years with femoral revision as the endpoint (Kaplan-Meier). The femoral aseptic loosening rate was 15% (4 of 26). Three stems were loose but did not warrant reoperation. One stem was revised for aseptic loosening, 1 was revised for septic loosening, and 1 was revised for a fractured femoral component. Bypassing weak or absent femoral bone with an extensively porous-coated stem is an effective reconstructive technique for patients with extensive femoral bone loss.