Total hip arthroplasty using a modular “short-stem” femoral prosthesis vs. a standard prosthesis; a five-year follow-up study

Background : The objective was to compare the results and radiological stability of a short stem with a standard stem. Methods : We compared a series of 44 patients with a short stem Vitae® (Adler®) compared to a control group of 33 patients who had the same procedure with a standard stem Hydra® (Adler®). Both cementless stems were modular. The surgical technique was identical by the same surgeon. The groups were comparable in preoperative (age, sex, BMI, functional scores). We studied the migration of the stem to 5 years of follow up and its functional repercussion with the factors that can influence it. Results : Mean subsidence was 2.2 mm + 1.7 in group 1 and 3.1 mm + 2.2 in group 2 (p = 0.08 ). The mean varus tilt was 2.7 ° ± 2.2 in group 1 and 0.5 ° ± 0.5 in group 2 (p <0.05 × 10- 5). We regret one recovery for painful migration in group 1. All functional scores were improved without significant difference. Conclusion : Despite greater radiological migration in short stems group,  functional results were comparable between the two groups. These results led us to suspend the use of this model of short stems.