[Elective total hip arthroplasty for patients 75 years of age and older]

The increasing life expectancies among octogerians ang nanogerians cause increased need for total hip replacement in this age group. The aim of our study was to analyze final results after total hip arthroplasty in patients 75 years of age and older. Clinical and radiological retrospective study was performed on a group of 59 patients (72 hips) in the mean age of 78 years. Minimal follow-up was 3 years. According to Harris Hip Score hip function improved on an average of 47 points and at final follow-up was 86 points. Patients with medical diseases had poorer hip function improvement. Early dislocation was found in 3 patients with was treated conservatively with good result. Almost 1/4 of patients suffered medical postoperative complications: pneumonia (n = 1), urinary tract infection (n = 4), pulmonary embolism (n = 1), acute myocardial infarction (n = 1), postoperative confusion (n = 5) and mild intestinal occlusion (n = 1). Additionally, one patient died for pulmonary embolism. There were no radiological signs of aseptic loosening or need for revision operation. Three fourth of our patients had satisfactory results after total hip replacement, despite relatively high medical (24%) and local complication rate. Aseptic loosening is rear in this age group.