Orthopedics Today highlights the perspective of Jose A. Rodriguez, MD, hip and knee surgeon at HSS, on a study evaluating the survivorship for patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty with the use of a specific modular femoral revision system.

Dr. Rodriguez wrote the study provides information indicating this implant system allows multiple different distal fixation options, but only the tapered conical implants are depicted, and it is not clear whether there was variability in usage. He noted modular implants have a history of issues, such as implant fracture and subsidence, and that the absence of these outcomes in the study speaks to improvements in implant design (i.e., modular junction strength, taper angle, surface roughness) and reamer-to-implant relationship. Additionally, he cited periprosthetic fracture distal to a diaphyseal engaging stem is a known complication in osteoporotic revision patient population, and the prevalence reported is align with other reports.

Dr. Rodriguez concluded, “Survivorship is a critical factor in assessing implant systems and their usage in specific clinical circumstances. Further follow-up of these patients will continue to provide data for better understanding how to achieve long survivorship more uniformly.”

Read the full article at healio.com.