Alloclassic® Zweymüller® Hip Stem Marks 30 Year of Clinical History

With 30 years of impressive long-term global success theAlloclassic Zweymüller hip stem surpasses a milestone in the endoprosthetic treatment of the hip joint. Its durability, load resistance, secondary stability and straightforward surgical technique combine to meet the rigorous demands of orthopaedic surgeons around the world. Numerous published studies confirm the excellent clinical experience of the Alloclassic Zweymüller hip stem 1,2,3,4,5,6 and distinguish it from imitations.6 

The Alloclassic Zweymüller stem continues to set the global standard for uncemented total hip replacement solutions.

Despite visual similarities, there are many fundamental differences in hip prostheses. Zimmer’s Alloclassic Zweymüller hip stem is the original prosthesis with this specific design and is distinguished by its high-performance material and sophisticated manufacturing.  Its rectangular cross-section, tapered straight stem and distinctive trochanter region provide the basis for both secure primary fixation and rotational stability.  The anterior and posterior distance between the stem and the diaphyseal cortex helps ensure endosteal blood supply and is designed to reduce the risk of avascular necrosis.2  The biocompatible Protasul® – 100 titanium alloy enables excellent osseointegration and, thus, excellent secondary stability for an established time-frame of at least ten years.  Together, these properties make the Alloclassic Zweymüller hip stem suitable for a broad range of femur shapes and age groups.

Excellent long-term results

The Alloclassic Zweymüller stem, first introduced in 1979 in Europe, now has more than 30 years of clinical history having been implanted in over 520,000 patients.7  Indeed, this uncemented hip prosthesis, with its streamlined surgical technique, is one of the most frequently implanted worldwide.

More than 100 published studies have reported in-depth examination of the stem’s long-term performance and have revealed low rates of revision.  At 15 years postoperative, 98% of the Alloclassic Zweymüller stems were still functional,3 and survivorship at 18 years was 95%. 4  One study, which covered a period of 13 years, indicated a 0% revision rate.5

Conclusion

The Alloclassic Zweymüller hip stem is designed to enable surgeons to achieve excellent long-term results. Decades of clinical use and research corroborate the success of this original cementless implant. Orthopaedic clinicians and researchers attribute its remarkable performance to the high quality of its design and its material.


References:

  1. Garcia-Cimbrelo E., et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003; 85-A: 296-303.
  2. Delaunay C, et al. J Arthroplasty 2001; 16: 47-54.
  3. Grübl A, et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2006; 88: 2210-2215.
  4. Reigstad O, et al. Acta Orthopaedica 2008; 79: 194-202.
  5. Pieringer H, et al. J Arthoplasty 2006; 21: 967-974.
  6. Lester KD, Wick M. J Bone Joint Surgery (Br.) 2004; 86-B: 1108-1114.
  7. Data on file at Zimmer, Inc.