[Computerized tomography analysis of cement-free total hip endoprostheses].

16 patients with total hip endoprosthesis were investigated by high resolution computed tomography (CT) to analyse possible advantages of CT over conventional radiography. The quality of the examinations was good only in pure titanium systems: examinations of chromium-molybdenum alloys were severely deteriorated by strike artifacts. Positioning of implants is well defined in radiographs; CT provides better visualisation of the relation between implant and cortical bone. Evaluation of the contact of the shaft to the femoral corticalis is difficult in radiographs but facilitated in axial scans. Determination of relevance of CT analysis of total hip endoprosthesis remains subject to a future long-term follow-up study.