Radiographic versus clinical loosening of the acetabular component in noninfected total hip arthroplasty.

In a series of 100 total hip arthroplasties revised due to various noninfectious causes, intraoperative determinations of the stability of the socket were compared with conventional preoperative radiographs. All seven hips without radiolucency around the cemented socket were found to be stable. Loosening was demonstrated in 6%-31% of the hips with radiolucency, depending on the classification system. Significantly, 35% of sockets with radiographic signs of migration were found to be stable. Radiographic evaluations of socket stability are difficult and require serial images obtained in precisely defined positions.