MID-TERM CLINICAL RESULTS OF THE CEMENTED THA STEM WITH DOUBLE-TAPERED DESIGN AND SMOOTH SURFACED TITANIUM ALLOY

IntroductionWe have compared the middle-term (average follow-up period; 10 years) clinical results of the K-MAX HS-3 tapered stem with those of the previous type having cylindrical tip.Materials and MethodsIn K-MAX HS-3 THA (Kyocera Medical, Kyoto, Japan), cemented titanium alloy stem and all polyethylene cemented socket are used. This stem has the double tapered symmetrical stem design, allowing the rotational stability and uniform stress distribution (Type T) (Fig. 1). The features of this stem are; 1. Vanadium-free high-strength titanium alloy (Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al), 2. Double-tapered design, 3. Smooth surface (Ra 0.4μm), 4. Broad proximal profile, 5. Small collar. In contrast, previous type stem, which was made of the same smooth-surface titanium alloy, has the design with cylindrical stem tip, allowing the maximum filling of the femoral canal (Type C) (Fig. 2). Osteolysis at the distal end of the stem had been reported in a few cases in Type C, probably due to the local stress concentration. Therefore the...