Exeter short stems compared with standard length exeter stems : experience from the Australian orthopaedic association national joint replacement registry

Abstract

The standard Exeter stem has a length of 150 mm with offsets 37.5 to 56 mm. Shorter stems of lengths 95, 115 and 125 mm with offsets 35.5 mm or less are available for patients with smaller femurs. Concern has been raised regarding the behavior of the smaller implants. This paper analyzed data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry comparing survivorship of stems of offset 35.5 mm or less with the standard stems of 37.5 mm offset or greater. At 7 years, there was no significant difference in the cumulative percent revision rate in the short stems (3.4%, 95% CI 2.4-4.8%) compared with the standard length stems (3.5%, 95% CI 3.3-3.8%) despite its use in a greater proportion of potentially more difficult developmental dysplasia of the hip cases.