The Anaform endoprosthesis: a proplast-coated femoral endoprosthesis.
The Anaform endoprosthesis study is a prospective trial by 12 orthopedic surgeons from six different hospitals in the Netherlands begun September 1984. As of March 1, 1988, 510 prostheses had been implanted, 60 with a follow up of more than 3 years. Of the 181 patients with a follow up of more than 2 years, 92% had a Harris hip score of more than 80 points. Apart from the main series, the prosthesis was used in 35 patients for revision of a cemented prosthesis, of whom 13 had a follow up of more than 2 years. Of these, ten patients (73%) had a Harris hip score of more than 80 points. Most patients studied were more than 65 years old. Fixation by ingrowth of fibrous tissue in a 2 mm thick, soft, flexible, low-modulus stem coating can provide painless function, clinical stabilization, and normal gait. The Anaform femoral endoprosthesis seems to be of advantage in the young patient as a method of cementless fixation. When necessary, removal without bone destruction is easy.