Total hip arthroplasty in patients with renal failure: a comparison between transplant and dialysis patients

This study analyzed the outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) from a single institution of patients with renal failure, including renal dialysis patients (9 patients, 9 hips) and renal transplant patients (28 patients, 36 hips). There were 12 revisions and a 61% complication rate in the transplant group. In the dialysis group, 1 patient was revised, and there was a 33% complication rate. Transplant patients were younger, more active, and lived longer, but had higher cumulative rates of revision and complications with longer follow-up. Dialysis patients, in contrast, had a short survival but a lower rate of complications and revisions. These data differ from previous reports of acceptable outcomes with low complication rates of THA in transplant patients. Efforts to minimize complications in these patients are justified.