Abstract: The suction lavage system of this invention incorporates a pulsatile water lavage in combination with a suction system to improve the interface between a prosthesis, such as a hip replacement, and the interdigitating network of cancellous bone in which it is secured with acrylic cement. The water lavage effectively evacuates the medullary fat and hematopoietic tissue from the trabecular interstices of cancellous bone.The suction irrigation system comprises a probe having two configurations which assist in impinging water on cancellous bone for evacuating fat and tissue along with water to improve the interface between the bone and cement. It has been found that weakening of the interface through stress may result in loosening of a prosthesis. The probe consists of a water conduit generally located on the outside of a suction conduit.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint of the type used to replace dysfunctional non-weight bearing joints such as the knuckle, wrist, elbow or shoulder. The preferred embodiment comprises a radial component connected by a concavo-convex socket component to a metacarpal component. The radial component has an intramedullary stem terminating in a cup having a plurality of inwardly extending pins. The concavo-convex socket component is retained in the cup by the articulation of the pins with a plurality of flats which communicate with slots which terminate in apertures. The concavo-convex component includes an opening extending inwardly from one end thereof which defines two communicating bearing surfaces, with the innermost surface being spherical and the outer surface being frusto-conical and having an elliptical cross-section. The metacarpal component includes a ball, a neck area and an intramedullary stem.