Stress changes in bone secondary to the use of a femoral canal plug with cemented hip replacement.

Total hip arthroplasty has become a commonly accepted surgical treatment of degenerative hip disorders. However, problems associated with this treatment have been identified. Loosening of the femoral component is reported to have an incidence ranging from 1 % or 2% of cases9 to 24% of cases,-’ depending on the definition of loosening. An incidence of even 2% is cause for major concern, considering that over 200,000 total hip arthroplasties are performed each year.I3 The increasing tendency to cement femoral stems of the Thompson, Giliberti, Bateman, and Moore endoprosthetic replacements compounds the problem. Amstutz et a/.’