Short Stem Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has proven successful in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with RA often require multiple revisions, and bone conservation is mandatory. A variety of short stems is currently available with mid-term results for osteoarthritis. This retrospective study evaluated mid-term clinical results of short stem THA in a series of patients with RA. Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 105 cementless short stems were implanted in patients with RA. Average patient age at the time of the index THA was 44.2 years, and average length of follow-up was 5 years. Clinical evaluation included physical examination and documentation of potential adverse events during the postoperative period. No radiographic failures occurred. Femoral and cup components showed some minor radiolucencies with sclerotic lines, but none involved 100% of the bone-prosthesis interface. Complications included femoral component subsidence in 2 hips after initial full weight bearing; 1 case resolved after 3 months, and the other case was revised to a standard shaft. One intraoperative dorsolateral stem tip perforation occurred with revision to a conventional length stem. Migration in 1 cup led to revision without removal of the short stem implant. No infections or joint dislocations were observed. The transfer of the short stem concept to an additional treatment option for patients with RA proved successful in the early to mid-term postoperative period. Complications and revisions were limited to early migration and early loosening of the implants in line with the results reported in the literature of cementless conventional THA in patients with RA.