Modular femoral components emerged because of the advantages of recreating limb length, offset, and native femoral version in total hip arthroplasty. Despite its potential benefits, the increase in modularity at the head-neck junction can lead to corrosion and subsequently failure of the implant.
We present 3 case examples of patients who underwent revision surgery secondary to corrosion of their modular femoral components.
Issues addressed include understanding corrosion at the head-neck junction, presentations of adverse local tissue reactions, efficacy of metal ion testing and metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging, and approaches to revision surgery for failed modular neck stems.
When revision surgery is indicated for failed modular neck stems, we recommend a thoughtful approach with contemporary extraction techniques and options to enhance stability. Furthermore, long-term follow-up is needed to define the growing effect of modularity in total hip arthroplasty.