The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative micromotions between the straight and the curved stems during the immediate postoperative stage of noncemented total hip replacement which load simulating the single leg stance and stair climbing.

The authors developed 3-dimensional numerical finite element models implanted with the straight stem, which was composed of a total of 1,170 elements of 8 nodes, and which had a curved stem composed of a total of 885 elements of 8 nodes, and then analyzed the relative micromotions of the straight and curved stems.

In the single leg stance, the curved stem was more stable especially in terms of its rotational stability. Rotational displacement accounted for over 90% of the total micromotion in both types of stem and this was highest for the proximal medial portion of the stem, but markedly less distally. Stair climbing produced more micromotion than the single leg stance regardless of the stem configuration.

It is recommended that surgeons do not allow patient weight bearing until bony ingrowth has been achieved. In the future more attention should be placed upon increasing the initial rotational stability of the two types of femoral stem to prevent loosening by excessive micromotion.