The correlation between immediate radiolucent lines and early implant migration in cemented acetabular components.

Periacetabular radiolucent lines (RLLs) on postoperative radiographs have been associated with early loosening of the acetabular component. It has also been shown that excessive migration of an implant corresponds to an increased incidence of later clinical failure. This study relates RLLs on anterior-posterior hip radiographs taken 10 days and 6 months postoperatively to implant migration detected by roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis.

Peri-acetabular radiolucent lines: inter- and intra-observer agreement on post-operative radiographs.

Peri-acetabular radiolucent lines (RLLs) seen on "early" post-operative radiographs have been identified as a potential predictor of long-term implant performance. This study examines the inter- and intra-observer variation encountered when assessing such radiographs. Four consultant orthopaedic surgeons assessed the presence, extent and width of RLLs in 220 radiographs performed on 50 patients taken one to two weeks, six weeks, six months and one year following surgery.