Extensively Porous-Coated Stems for Femoral Revision: A Choice for All Seasons

We reviewed the outcome of 905 femoral revisions performed at our institution between June 1980 and August 2006 using extensively porous-coated, cylindrical stems. A total of 20 femoral rerevisions were identified, including 12 for aseptic loosening, 4 for infection, 3 for stem fracture, and 1 in conjunction with a periprosthetic femur fracture. All stem rerevisions occurred within the first 10 years after surgery. Kaplan-Meier survivorship, using stem rerevision for any reason as an end point, was 97.5% ± 1.3% (95% confidence intervals) at 5 years, declined to 95.9% ± 1.9% at 10 years, and remained constant thereafter. With long-term follow-up, extensively porous-coated, cylindrical stems used for femoral revision continue to demonstrate excellent survivorship.