Transfemoral implantation of the Wagner SL stem. The abolition of subsidence and enhancement of osteotomy union rate using Dall-Miles cables.

BACKGROUND: The Wagner SL uncemented revision stem has been utilised successfully for revision hip surgery where marked loss of proximal bone stock co-exists or where there is a periprosthetic fracture. Implanted via the transfemoral approach, one significant difficulty appears to be a tendency for implant subsidence, which in some cases has been troublesome enough to necessitate early revision (usually to a larger prosthesis). METHODS: A change in our operative practice allowed us to review the effects of using either wire cerclages or 2.0 mm Dall-Miles cables for prophylactic wiring of the distal femur. Seventeen Wagner SL stems, inserted via the transfemoral approach, were studied in 16 patients. RESULTS: We found those patients prophylactically wired with Dall-Miles cables demonstrated no subsidence in comparison with those in whom heavy wire cerclage had been utilised (mean subsidence 6 mm; p=0.001). In addition, we found that closure of the proximal osteotomy with wires conferred a more reliable rate of union in comparison with those closed with heavy sutures. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of Dall-Miles cables for distal cerclage and osteotomy closure for the Wagner prosthesis.

A proximal referencing system for the Charnley low friction arthroplasty.

Dislocation is a serious complication of total hip arthroplasty occurring in up to 9% of cases. Recurrent dislocation accounts for 4% of revisions in the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Study. Soft tissue balancing is one of the factors, independent of the surgical approach used, that is involved in producing a stable total hip replacement. We describe a proximal referencing system for use with the Charnley low friction arthrosplasty (LFA), which optimises this factor. The dislocation rate, using this method, is 0.3% (in 333 cases performed by a single surgeon over a 5 year period). This system should prove valuable to orthopaedic surgeons in training, ensuring they achieve correct soft tissue balance in total hip arthroplasty. (Hip International 2002; 12: 303-7).