[Complications within two years after revision of total hip prostheses]

To describe the complications within 2 years after revision of failed total hip prostheses.

Descriptive.

Using prospective registration, data were collected on the complications that had occurred in patients who had undergone hip revision in 2002 and 2003 on the orthopaedic department at the University Medical Centre St. Radboud in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

The study group consisted of 67 patients, 47 women and 20 men, with an average age at time of revision of 62 (SD: 15.3). 67 revisions of total hip prostheses were performed: 64% underwent first revision and 36% re-revision. In 40% a cup revision only was performed, in 15% a femoral revision and 45% underwent total revision. The most frequent indications for revision were aseptic loosening (76%) and recurrent dislocation (13%). In 19% of the procedures a peroperative complication occurred, 2 patients died during follow up although not from operation-related causes, and in 51% of remaining patients a complication occurred within 2 years after surgery. The most frequently seen complications were dislocation (8%) and deep infection (5%). 2 of 3 deep infections were re-infections of earlier septic revisions. The most frequent complication was luxation. Together with recurrent dislocation, deep infection was the most frequent indication for a re-operation. The re-operation percentage was 12. 3 out of the 5 luxations that occurred were re-revised due to recurrent dislocation.

Hip revision procedures are associated with a high rate of complications within 2 years of implantation. The data are comparable with the limited amount of published data.