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Poor results of the Freeman uncemented metal-backed acetabular component

FIVE-TO-NINE-YEAR RESULTS

Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK.

D. A. F. Morgan, FRACS, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon; and W. J. Donnelly, FRACS, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr S. F. Journeaux.

We reviewed 120 consecutive primary total hip replacements in 109 patients in whom a Freeman uncemented metal-backed component had been used. Acetabular components were used with a Freeman neck-retaining stem in one of three configurations: cemented smooth stem, uncemented smooth stem or uncemented ridged stem. After a mean follow up of 72 months (62 to 113) there were nine cases of aseptic loosening; a survivorship at eight years of 83%. In addition, more than one-third of the remaining surviving cups showed loosening radiologically. The Freeman acetabular component demonstrated a characteristic pattern of loosening on radiographs. The high incidence of aseptic loosening can be explained by poor design and material failure.