The Journal of Arthroplasty Vol. 13 No. 1 1998 Brief Communication Comparison of Total Hip and Knee Component Weights William M. Mihalko, MD, PhD, Mary Bayers-Thering, MS, and Kenneth A. Krackow, MD Abstract: Weights of total hip and total knee components from 4 major orthopaedic device manufacturers are compared. These data provide surgeons with information that is not readily available and may serve as a reference for patient information or possibly biomechanical studies in the future. Key words: hip, knee, arthroplasty, prosthetic components, biomechanics. The changes in total hip and knee component design and materials have been complex and varied since the 1980s. One aspect not reported in the design, manufacturing, and sales of these arthro- plasty components is their weight and any differ- ence in weight compared with the bone that is resected. It has also been noted over the past several years by the senior author (K.A.K.) that many patients ask what their new joint arthroplasty will weigh. To date, no previous publication has dis- cussed this question; as well, no information on the component packaging or product insert is available. This study surveyed 4 major orthopaedic device manufacturers for comparison of total hip and knee component weights. Seven different total hip sys- tems and 5 different total knee systems were used for statistics and compared with the weight of bone resected in primary total hip and knee surgery. These data provide surgeons with information that From the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, New York. Reprint requests: Kenneth A Krackow, MD, B2 Department of Orthopaedics, Buflalo General Hospital, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. Copyright © 1998 Churchill Livingstone. 0883-5403/1301-001655.00/0 is not readily available and may be of general interest to them and their patients. In addition, this is information that can be considered in future biomechanical studies. Four major orthopaedic total joint manufacturers were surveyed (Howmedica, Rutherford, NJ; DePuy, Warsaw, IN; Zimmer, Warsaw, IN; Joint Medical Products, Johnson & Johnson, Raynham, MA). They freely submitted the weights of medium-sized components of 7 different total hip systems and 5 different total knee systems. The data were sorted by individual components as well as total weight of all components needed in total hip (femoral stem acetabular shell and insert and femoral head) and total knee (femoral and tibial component, tibial tray, and patellar backing) implantations. The data were separated for the hip systems by alloy used for the femoral stem (cobalt-chrome vs titanium) also, and all total knee systems were grouped for comparison of bone weight resected. The weight of the bone resected for 20 total hip and 20 total knee arthroplasties was determined in the operating room using a triple-beam balance. For total hip patients, the femoral head and calcar were weighed in the operating room after the neck/calcar cut was made. The acetabular and femoral canal 101