Cross-Linked Polyethylene and Bisphosphonate Therapy for Osteolysis in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report

• Main Authors: LJ O'Hara, B Nivbrant, S Röhrl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2004-06-01
• Series: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/230949900401200121

A 39-year-old woman underwent bilateral total hip arthroplasty with conventional, ethylene oxide–sterilised liners when she was a subject in a radiostereometric analysis study. Within 2 years she had rapid polyethylene wear with aggressive, asymptomatic, and periprosthetic osteolysis on both sides. Oral alendronate therapy halted the progression of osteolysis over a year and revision to cross-linked polyethylene liners was then undertaken while one stem was curettaged and the other revised. Radiostereometric analysis revealed a 96% reduction in wear rate over 2 years with the cross-linked liners. On stopping alendronate treatment, aggressive osteolysis recurred on the curretaged but not on the revised femur.