Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Feger J, Sharma R, Nicoletti D, Subsidence. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-91172
In a medical sense, subsidence refers to the collapse or settling of bone located immediately next to an implantable device in direction of the loading force. It can lead to a loss of the desired postoperative result and to further complications 1.
Epidemiology
Associations
Subsidence can be associated with the following conditions 1-4:
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Plain radiographs usually show an intrusion of the graft into the adjacent bone, e.g. vertebral body, talar bone, humeral or femoral shaft. Evaluation methods include measurements that vary depending on the site of subsidence and comparisons between immediate postoperative radiographs and subsequent radiographs 1.
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1. Winegar B, Kay M, Chadaz T, Taljanovic M, Hood K, Hunter T. Update on Imaging of Spinal Fixation Hardware. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2019;23(02):e56-79. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1677468 - Pubmed
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2. Rao P, Phan K, Giang G, Maharaj M, Phan S, Mobbs R. Subsidence Following Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF): A Prospective Study. J Spine Surg. 2017;3(2):168-75. doi:10.21037/jss.2017.05.03 - Pubmed
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3. Li S & Myerson M. Management of Talar Component Subsidence. Foot and Ankle Clinics. 2017;22(2):361-89. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2017.01.006 - Pubmed
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4. Tross A, Lädermann A, Wittmann T et al. Subsidence of Uncemented Short Stems in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty—A Multicenter Study. JCM. 2020;9(10):3362. doi:10.3390/jcm9103362 - Pubmed
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5. Petscavage-Thomas J & Ha A. Imaging Current Spine Hardware: Part 1, Cervical Spine and Fracture Fixation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014;203(2):394-405. doi:10.2214/ajr.13.12216 - Pubmed
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6. Kurihara S, Hatayama K, Terauchi M, Saito K, Higuchi H, Chikuda H. Large Reduction in Postoperative Posterior Tibial Slope Risks Anterior Collapse of the Tibial Component in Fixed-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty. Arthroplast Today. 2022;17:9-15. doi:10.1016/j.artd.2022.06.011 - Pubmed
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