SEGMENTAL CEMENT EXTRACTION AT REVISION TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Cement removal in revision total hip arthroplasty can be technically challenging. Traditional methods involve using a combination of chisels, power burrs, and drills, as well as windowing the femoral cortex to gain access to cement distally. These methods can be associated with femoral fracture or uncontrolled cortical perforation and bone loss. A new technique had been developed that permits segmental extraction of bone cement from the femoral canal. Fresh cement is introduced into the old cement mantle and a threaded rod is placed into the wet cement and held in place while the cement hardens. The thread-forming rod is then removed leaving a threaded channel in the cement. Extraction rods are then screwed 1.5 to 2.5 cm into the threaded channel. A slap hammer, which attaches to the opposite end of the extraction rod, is used to remove 1.5- to 2.5-cm segments of cement. Fifteen cases involving revision of cemented femoral components were analyzed using this system. Complete cement removal was achieved in 12 cases with much less damage to the femur when compared with conventional methods. In two cases, there was retained cement along the medial wall of the femur and, in one case, the plug could not be extracted using this system. There were no fractures or cortical perforations in this series.