Early Learning Experience with a Neck Stabilized THA Stem for Treating Osteoarthritis

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the most effective orthopaedic procedures with a very high success rate as measured by pain relief, improved function and patient satisfaction. However, since the introduction of total hip arthroplasty in the 1940s, a range of design philosophies for femoral components have demonstrated variable clinical results. Aseptic loosening, joint dislocation, thigh pain, bone resorption and femoral component failure have been some of the complications that plague this procedure.1,2 The past few years has seen an influx of so-called short stems with very little clarification as to design features, required surgical technique and long-term clinical outcomes. Most devices, meet with some level of learning curve and most systems do little in the way of warning new surgeons as to the perils and pitfalls during the initial surgical phase. This paper is designed to review the lessons learned during the first year of surgical experience with a new neck stabilized implant stem.1,2,3,4