ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness of digital templating in patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty by comparing and analyzing the accuracy of acetate and digital templating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and nine patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty between November 2002 and May 2006 were assigned to the acetate templating group (group I), and 113 patients between June 2006 and April 2009 were assigned to the digital templating group (group II). The sizes of the acetebular cup and femoral stem were examined to determine the accuracy of each method. RESULTS: In group I, acetabular cup accuracy was found in 46.8% of cases, and 94.5% showed a mismatch less than +/- 1 sizes. In the case of the femoral stem, accuracy was found in 53.2% and 92.7% showed a mismatch. In group II, acetebular cup accuracy was observed in 43.4% of cases, and 92.9% showed a mismatch below +/- 1 size. In femoral stem cases, 46.9% were accurate and 93.8% showed a mismatch. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the digital templating method is equivalent to that of acetate templating, and should replace acetate templating before the operation.