A prospective randomized trial of cemented femoral components with polished versus grit-blasted surface finish and identical stem geometry

This randomized, prospective study compared 2 cemented hip stems that differed only in the surface finish, which was polished or grit blasted. A total of 226 hybrid total hips were evaluated at an average of 4.8 years postoperatively. No stem in either group was loose or revised for aseptic loosening. There was one case of significant distal lysis in the grit-blasted group. There was no statistical difference between polished and grit-blasted stems in incidence of lysis or bone-cement radiolucency. Harris Hip score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and SF-36 analysis showed no difference between groups. In conclusion, when adequate cement mantles are achieved around the femoral component, little difference in construct durability between polished and grit-blasted surface finish components can be detected at 4.8-year follow-up for this stem design.