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. 2002 Jun 28;26(5):299–302. doi: 10.1007/s00264-002-0377-x

A computed tomography assessment of femoral and acetabular bone changes after total hip arthroplasty

R Schmidt 1, L Muller 1, A Kress 1, H Hirschfelder 1, A Aplas 1, R Pitto 2
PMCID: PMC3620988  PMID: 12378358

Abstract.

Using computed tomography-assisted (CT) osteodensitometry, we studied the bone changes that occurred in 12 patients at 2 weeks and again at 1 year after total hip arthroplasty with insertion of a press-fit acetabular cup and an uncemented femoral tapered stem. There was a greater decrease in full bone density (BD) lateral to the femoral stem when compared to the medial side, at the proximal end of the femur this difference was significant (-22.1% versus -16.2%) (P<0.001). At the tip of the stem cortical BD had decreased between 2.3% and 1.9% only. Proximal to the cup, the cortical BD increased by about 3.4% (P≤0.05), while the full BD decreased markedly by 8% (P≤0.001). These changes represent a response to a decrease in regional bone stress induced by the presence of the press-fit implant, and this might be considered as retro-acetabular stress shielding. No focal bone resorption was found.

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