The Use of Cement in Hip Arthroplasty: A Contemporary Perspective

Abstract

Notable advances in hip arthroplasty implants and techniques over the past 60 years have yielded excellent survivorship of fully cemented, hybrid, and reverse hybrid total hip replacements as demonstrated in joint registries worldwide. Major advances in noncemented implants have reduced the use of cement, particularly in North America. Noncemented implants predominate today based on procedural efficiency, concern related to thromboembolic risk, and a historic belief that cement was the primary cause of osteolysis and implant loosening. With the decline of cemented techniques, press-fit fixation has become common even in osteoporotic elderly patients. Unfortunately, there is a troubling rise in intraoperative, as well as early and late postoperative periprosthetic fractures associated with the use of noncemented implants. Despite the success of noncemented fixation, an understanding of modern cement techniques and cemented implant designs is useful to mitigate the risk of periprosthetic fractures. Cemented acetabular components can be considered in elderly patients with osteoporotic or pathologic bone. Cemented stems should be considered with abnormal proximal femoral morphology, conversion of failed hip fixation, inflammatory arthritis, patient age over 75 (especially women), osteoporotic bone (Dorr C), and in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.