Occlusion and Stability of Two Different Femoral Canal Plugs in Cemented Hip Arthroplasty. A Prospective and Randomized Study, with a Two Year Follow-Up

The aim of this prospective and randomised study was to test the ability of two different femoral plugs to seal off the femoral canal to prevent cement leakage, displacement of the restrictor and early aseptic loosening. Seventy patients, 35 in each of two groups, were included. There were 31 men and 39 women. The average age was 70 years; the follow-up was two years. In group 1 (the Exeter plug) there were four cases with cement leakage and in group 2 there were three (the DePuy plug). There were four cases with failures in group 1, due to technical failure peroperatively, and none in group 2. Two cases with early mechanical loosening were found in group 1 and none in group 2. Both restrictors were found equivalent in their ability to occlude the femoral canal but peroperatively there seem to be technical difficulties with the Exeter restrictor.