[Use of ultrasound for the removal of cement in hip prosthesis reoperations].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

One of the challenges facing the surgeon during revision procedures is the harduous task of complete acrylic cement removal while leaving the surrounding cortical bone intact. A set of ultra sonic driven instruments has been evaluated revisions of total hip and total knee prosthesis. The principle is to convert standard electrical energy into mechanical energy via an ultrasonic transducer.

MATERIAL

10 revisions of cemented hip prosthesis and one of a total knee prosthesis (Guepar Howmedica) have been performed with success easily and safely.

RESULTS

The ultra-sonically driven tools used have reduced the incidence of perforation (1 cases), with no need to cut cortical windows to remove the distal plug, and have also reduced the time for cement removal and the intra-operative blood loss.

CONCLUSION

The author thinks that this technique provides a great facility in revision surgery. A larger study will be done soon.