Weight bearing radiographs are not necessary for measurement of polyethylene penetration in total hip prostheses: a radiostereometric study of 111 patients examined in weight-bearing and supine position.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists as to whether polyethylene (PE) penetration of hip prostheses is underestimated when the measurements are made on radiographs obtained in supine position as compared to weight-bearing position. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 111 patients by radiostereometric analysis (RSA) in the supine and weight-bearing positions. RESULTS: The mean 3-D penetration was 0.68 mm (SD 0.58, range 0.04-3.05) for the supine position and 0.70 mm (SD 0.57, range 0.08-3.01) for the weight-bearing position. The correlation between supine and weight-bearing examinations was 0.99 (p < 0.001). The degree of penetration made no difference. There was no statistically significant difference as to whether the first examination was performed early, i.e. after 3 months, or after 12 months (p = 0.7). INTERPRETATION: The small systematic difference in penetration values between the supine and the weight-bearing positions is of no clinical or methodological importance.

Radiostereometric analysis of the double-coated STAR total ankle prosthesis: a 3-5 year follow-up of 5 cases with rheumatoid arthritis and 5 cases with osteoarthrosis.

BACKGROUND: The designs of total ankle prostheses have changed in recent years in order to give better performance. Only a few studies of these ankle prostheses have been published, however, and none on micromotion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 5 with osteoarthrosis, 4 (3-5) years after arthroplasty with the double-coated STAR prosthesis. Clinical examination included AOFAS hindfoot score. Standardized a-p and lateral radiographs were taken and RSA analyses were done at regular intervals. RESULTS: There was no difference in results between ankles operated on due to rheumatoid arthritis and due to osteoarthrosis. A rapid initial migration was observed for the tibial components at 6 weeks, but thereafter all but 1 implant seemed stable. The migration pattern for the talar component was similar. Rotation around the 3 axes was observed for the tibial components at 6 weeks, but not thereafter. The talar components became stable for rotation around the longitudinal and sagittal axes, but not around the transverse axis. 8 out of 10 ankles were painless. The median total AOFAS score was 83 and the median range of motion was 32 degrees. None of the 20 components had changed position and there were no signs of bone resorption. INTERPRETATION: Provided the indication is adequate and the prosthesis has been implanted correctly, the double-coated STAR ankle prosthesis will have a satisfactory fixation to underlying bone.

Accuracy of radiographic and radiostereometric wear measurement of different hip prostheses: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: In vivo measurement of wear in the ball and socket articulation of total hip arthroplasties is of interest in the evaluation of both existing and new implants. Controversy reigns regarding the accuracy of different radiological measurement techniques and in particular how accuracy has been assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed the accuracy of 2 radiostereometric (RSA) techniques for wear measurement and 3 standard radiographic techniques, namely Imagika (image analyzing software), Imagika corrected for head center displacement, and the Charnley Duo method. 5 custom-made adjustable phantoms with different prosthetic components were used. RESULTS: In 20 measurements of all 5 phantoms at 3 levels of simulated wear (0.2 mm, 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm), the mean measurement error of the digital RSA examinations was 0.010 mm (accuracy 0.42). The corresponding error values for the three radiographic techniques were 0.19 (accuracy 1.3) for Charnley Duo, 0.13 (accuracy 1.3) for Imagika corrected, and 1.021 (accuracy 2.99) for Imagika. Measurement error decreased from 0.011 mm with ordinary RSA to 0.004 with RSA digital measurement. Head size, direction of wear in relation to the cup or type of prosthetic component did not influence the measurement error. The results of Charnley Duo and Imagika corrected were similar but the latter had an inexplicable systematic error in measuring one of the phantoms. Imagika had the worst results due to its inability to compensate for the out-of-head center effect. Alumina heads were difficult to analyze with all methods. INTERPRETATION: By using the ISO standard for assessing accuracy, RSA can be expected to measure wear with an accuracy of about 0.4 mm irrespective of prosthetic component studied or direction of wear, whereas the best technique, in our study, based on standard radiographs can be accurate to about 1.3 mm.