Early Failure of a Modular Femoral Neck Total Hip Arthroplasty Component

A Case Report

By David A.J. Wilson, MASc, BEng, Michael J. Dunbar, MD, FRCSC, PhD, John D. Amirault, MD, FRCSC, and Zoheir Farhat, PhD, PEng

School of Biomedical Engineering (D.A.J.W. and M.J.D.) and Departments of Surgery (D.A.J.W., M.J.D., and J.D.A.) and Materials Engineering (Z.F.), QEII Health Sciences Centre

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery Vol. 92-a June 2010

The PROFEMUR Z modular total hip arthroplasty component (WrightMedical Technology, Arlington, Tennessee) is a primary total hip replacement system that offers surgeons the ability to alter the length and version of the femoral neck after the femoral stem has been implanted. The modularity is achieved through taper interfaces at the distal and proximal ends of the femoral neck. The proximal femoral neck taper engages with the femoral head, and the distal taper engages with the femoral stem.

In this report, we present the case of a patient who twice underwent total hip arthroplasty revision surgery. The first revision was due to a fractured ceramic femoral head. The second revision was due to a complete fracture of the modular femoral neck. This report will focus on the second revision, and, specifically, the failure of the modular femoral neck at the junction of the neck to the femoral stem. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he consented.