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Canadian Journal of Surgery logoLink to Canadian Journal of Surgery
. 2000 Oct;43(5):359–364.

Blood flow changes to the proximal femur during total hip arthroplasty

Thomas M Hupel 1, Emil H Schemitsch 1,, Sergei A Aksenov 1, James P Waddell 1
PMCID: PMC3695142  PMID: 11045094

Abstract

Objective

To determine the changes in perfusion to the proximal femur that occur during cemented and uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Design

Case series.

Setting

A single tertiary-care centre.

Patients

Twenty-two consecutive patients. Those who had undergone previous hip surgery or received systemic corticosteroid therapy were excluded.

Intervention

Cemented (11 procedures) or uncemented (12 procedures) THA.

Main outcome measure

Changes in blood flow at the level of the proximal femur, measured with laser Doppler flowmetry at 4 different times during THA.

Results

In both the cemented and the uncemented procedure overall proximal femoral blood flow was reduced (p = 0.002, p = 0.008, respectively). A greater reduction in overall proximal femoral perfusion was seen in the cemented group compared with the uncemented group (p = 0.004). This greater reduction in perfusion was seen primarily in the proximal femoral diaphysis (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

The extensive canal preparation involved with the cemented procedure or the introduction of bone cement under pressure into the femoral canal may contribute to the greater reduction in perfusion to the proximal femur.

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Articles from Canadian Journal of Surgery are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

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