Cement within Cement Revision Hip Arthroplasty a Minimum 5 Year Follow-Up Study

Complete removal of femoral shaft cement during revision hip surgery is a difficult task prone to complications. If the cement bone interface is intact however, is there a place for its preservation and re-use with a new cemented stem? The results are reported of 51 cement within cement femoral stem revisions carried out between 1984 and 1991 with a minimum of 5 years’ follow-up, and a mean of 7.8 years. Excluding patients lost or deceased, 39 hips in 38 patients were reviewed clinically and radiologically. Eighty-two percent of these were still functioning in situ, 72% were excellent or good using the HSS scoring system and 97% had no radiological evidence of loosening. Femoral stem failure due to aseptic loosening occurred in 4 cases (10%) between 4 and 12 years after revision. Comparing this series to a previous revision hip series by the senior author, there appears to be no deterioration in long term results using this technique, and a better long term radiological outcome.