Orthopaedics has been earmarked as one of the specialties that could make significant savings in the National Health Service. A large number of young adults are receiving total hip replacements and there has been a trend towards using uncemented implants. We describe the clinical and functional results at minimum 19 year follow up of cemented total hip replacements in patients under the age of fifty-five in our health region between 1990 and 1997.

104 cemented THRs performed in 100 patients under 55 years were included in this study. The follow-up data had been collected prospectively in the University database. 88.46% hips showed good to excellent results at final follow-up with a mean Harris hip score of 87.9±8.64. Revision was performed in 2 hips (1.92%), one for aseptic acetabular loosening and the other for late haematogenous infection. Probable radiological loosening was seen in 14 acetabular components (14.89%) and 4 femoral components (4.25%) at final follow-up. The mean rate of acetabular wear was 0.12mm/year and was not influenced by gender or diagnosis. The mean follow-up was 21.68±2.11 years (range 19 to 26 years) and the survivorship at 19 years was 98.07%.

The GIRFT report looked at the economic aspect of implant selection and found that the cost of uncemented implants was almost double that of the cemented implants. Savings of atleast £10 million a year can be made if cemented implants were used. We recommend that in a publically funded health system like the NHS, cemented implants can be used in patients under 55 with good long term functional outcomes and large savings in the healthcare costs.