Problems, Obstacles and Complications in a Consecutive Series of More than 400 Navigated Modular Short Stems in Hip Arthroplasty

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) has been introduced in hip replacement to improve the precision of the acetabular and femoral components and hopefully to improve prosthesis longevity and biomechanics. Likewise the concept of shorter “neck-sparing” femoral stems has been gaining in popularity. These new designs preserve more native bone in the femoral neck of the patient during femoral preparation and theoretically the association to a modular neck could assure a more anatomical hip reconstruction. First aim of the study was to assess difficulties and adverse effects and thei incidence in more than 400 CAS total hip replacement (THR) using a modular short stem (Metha, BBraun, Tuttlingen, Germany) performed in one center since 1999: Second aim of the study was to determine if computer assisted hip replacement, despite better final implants alignment, has to be considered as a demanding surgical technique because of an higher number of adverse consequences compare to traditional techniques.