Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years

Abstract Background Short femoral stems were introduced for total hip arthroplasty (THA) to preserve bone stock, increase proximal load transfer, and enable minimal invasive approaches. However, after implanting the short curved Fitmore hip stem, an increased occurrence of cortical hypertrophy (CH),...

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Main Authors: Katharina Sophia Maier, Tom Schiener, Arno Frigg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06064-9
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author Katharina Sophia Maier
Tom Schiener
Arno Frigg
author_facet Katharina Sophia Maier
Tom Schiener
Arno Frigg
author_sort Katharina Sophia Maier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Short femoral stems were introduced for total hip arthroplasty (THA) to preserve bone stock, increase proximal load transfer, and enable minimal invasive approaches. However, after implanting the short curved Fitmore hip stem, an increased occurrence of cortical hypertrophy (CH), cortical thinning (CT) and radiolucency (RL) was observed. There are few long-term data on the progression of CH with the Fitmore hip stem, and no data on other radiological parameters. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of these radiological parameters (e.g. for thigh pain) has not yet been investigated. Methods 80 Fitmore hip stems were evaluated prospectively over 10-years. The main radiographic parameters were CH, CT, RL and subsidence. The clinical parameters were thigh pain, Oxford Hip Score and Harris Hip Score. Results The rate of CH was 69% after 1 year, and 74% after 10 years. CH mainly appeared in Gruen Zones 2, 3, 5, and 6. CT was 65% after 1 year, and 80% after 10 years, mainly in Gruen Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13. RL was found in 58% of cases after 1 year and in 18% of cases after 10 years, primarily in Gruen Zones 1 and 8. Subsidence was 1.6 ± 1.6 mm after 1 year and 5.0 ± 3.1 mm after 10 years. The Oxford Hip Score increased from 22 to 43, the Harris Hip Score from 59 to 94. The prevalence of preoperative of thigh pain was 96%, dropping to 16% after 10 years. Over 10 years, the radiological parameters did not correlate with any of the clinical parameters. Conclusions Over 10 years, the short curved Fitmore hip stem did not prevent proximal stress shielding and exhibited CH and CT. However, this had no clinical consequences and was not correlated with symptoms. Despite its primary press-fit fixation, we observed that, unlike other stems, the Fitmore hip stem did not settle to its final position after one year, but continued to subside over 10 years by a maximum of 5 mm.
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spelling doaj-art-5347c1bf119949478f69f1da677a31c22025-08-20T03:43:10ZengBMCJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research1749-799X2025-07-012011810.1186/s13018-025-06064-9Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 yearsKatharina Sophia Maier0Tom Schiener1Arno Frigg2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cantonal Hospital GraubuendenDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cantonal Hospital GraubuendenUniversity of BaselAbstract Background Short femoral stems were introduced for total hip arthroplasty (THA) to preserve bone stock, increase proximal load transfer, and enable minimal invasive approaches. However, after implanting the short curved Fitmore hip stem, an increased occurrence of cortical hypertrophy (CH), cortical thinning (CT) and radiolucency (RL) was observed. There are few long-term data on the progression of CH with the Fitmore hip stem, and no data on other radiological parameters. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of these radiological parameters (e.g. for thigh pain) has not yet been investigated. Methods 80 Fitmore hip stems were evaluated prospectively over 10-years. The main radiographic parameters were CH, CT, RL and subsidence. The clinical parameters were thigh pain, Oxford Hip Score and Harris Hip Score. Results The rate of CH was 69% after 1 year, and 74% after 10 years. CH mainly appeared in Gruen Zones 2, 3, 5, and 6. CT was 65% after 1 year, and 80% after 10 years, mainly in Gruen Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13. RL was found in 58% of cases after 1 year and in 18% of cases after 10 years, primarily in Gruen Zones 1 and 8. Subsidence was 1.6 ± 1.6 mm after 1 year and 5.0 ± 3.1 mm after 10 years. The Oxford Hip Score increased from 22 to 43, the Harris Hip Score from 59 to 94. The prevalence of preoperative of thigh pain was 96%, dropping to 16% after 10 years. Over 10 years, the radiological parameters did not correlate with any of the clinical parameters. Conclusions Over 10 years, the short curved Fitmore hip stem did not prevent proximal stress shielding and exhibited CH and CT. However, this had no clinical consequences and was not correlated with symptoms. Despite its primary press-fit fixation, we observed that, unlike other stems, the Fitmore hip stem did not settle to its final position after one year, but continued to subside over 10 years by a maximum of 5 mm.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06064-9Total hip arthroplastyFitmoreClinical resultsRadiographic resultsLong-termShort stem
spellingShingle Katharina Sophia Maier
Tom Schiener
Arno Frigg
Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Total hip arthroplasty
Fitmore
Clinical results
Radiographic results
Long-term
Short stem
title Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
title_full Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
title_fullStr Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
title_full_unstemmed Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
title_short Progression of cortical hypertrophy, subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
title_sort progression of cortical hypertrophy subsidence and thigh pain after short curved fitmore femoral hip stem over 10 years
topic Total hip arthroplasty
Fitmore
Clinical results
Radiographic results
Long-term
Short stem
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06064-9
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AT tomschiener progressionofcorticalhypertrophysubsidenceandthighpainaftershortcurvedfitmorefemoralhipstemover10years
AT arnofrigg progressionofcorticalhypertrophysubsidenceandthighpainaftershortcurvedfitmorefemoralhipstemover10years