Retrospective and consecutive analysis of the long-term outcomes of the SBG stem: a 15-year follow-up study.

Background: In 1991, 230 cementless total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with anatomical Stolzalpe-Buchner-Graf (SBG) stems were implanted in 230 patients at our hospital. Patients were examined retrospectively and consecutively 15 years after the operations.

Methods: In total, 118 patients were available for follow-up (average 12.8 +/- 3.8 years postoperatively), with 44 examined clinically/radiologically at our hospital and 74 interviewed by telephone. Five THAs needed revision (stem explantation), three for aseptic loosening. Average patient age at the time of surgery was 61 years (27-91 years). For all THAs, we implanted ceramic-to-metal heads in combination with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene inlay (ceramic/polyethylene and metal/polyethylene articulating components).

Results: The survival rate of the SBG stem was 98.13% (CI 94.32-99.39%) with aseptic loosening as the endpoint and 96.98% (CI 92.85-98.74%) with revision and stem explantation for any other reason as the endpoint. The average Harris Hip Score was 36.0 +/- 6.9 (range 22-45) preoperatively, increasing to 88.2 +/- 15.3 (30-100) for clinically evaluated patients and 80.3 +/- 11.3 (27-91) for telephone-interviewed patients at 15 years postoperatively. Osteolysis and radiolucent lines around the prosthetic stem were rarely observed (mainly at the proximal diaphysis).

Conclusion: These follow-up results emphasize the excellent long-term outcomes associated with the SBG stem.