Logo of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Br)
Quick search:        
          Advanced Search
Guest Access | Sign In
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Weber, F. A.
Right arrow Articles by Charnley, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Weber, F. A.
Right arrow Articles by Charnley, J.

A RADIOLOGICAL STUDY OF FRACTURES OF ACRYLIC CEMENT IN RELATION TO THE STEM OF A FEMORAL HEAD PROSTHESIS

Frans A. Weber 1; and John Charnley 2

1 Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Wrightington, England

The incidence and prognostic significance of fractures of acrylic cement related to the stem of a femoral head prosthesis in total hip replacement are examined. These fractures are demonsfrated when the cement has been rendered radio-opaque by the addition of barium sulphate. One and a half per cent of the radiographs of 6,649 patients showed these fractures, which were sometimes associated with subsidence of the prosthesis. Fracture of the cement was usually evident at the six-month post-operative review, if it occurred at all. This radiological complication was devoid of symptoms in the majority of cases and tended to occur in patients with excellent functional recovery. In a minority of patients pain in the thigh during the first six months seemed likely to be explained by this fracture. Slight subsidence of the prosthesis in the cement bed appeared to result in a new and final position of stability. The prognosis was very good; only when separation of the fracture exceeded about 4 millimetres was the prognosis doubtful, in which case a chronic deep infection might be suspected. Possible mechanical and structural causes of fracture of the cement are discussed.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Bone Joint Surg BrHome page
K. Iesaka, W. L. Jaffe, C. M. Jones, and F. J. Kummer
The effects of fluid penetration and interfacial porosity on the fixation of cemented femoral components
J Bone Joint Surg Br, September 1, 2005; 87-B(9): 1298 - 1302.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General