Early intraprosthetic dislocation in a revision dual-mobility hip prosthesis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is often performed for instability.
• Dual-mobility cups are utilized in THA to reduce dislocation risk.

Observation:

• A 70-year-old woman experienced recurrent dislocations after revision THA with a dual-mobility cup.
• Radiographs and MRI revealed complete intraprosthetic dissociation between the femoral head and polyethylene liner.

Findings:

• Early intraprosthetic dislocation of a dual-mobility hip prosthesis is a rare but significant complication.
• This dissociation occurred after closed reduction of the dislocated dual-mobility construct.

Implications:

• Highlights a potential failure mode of dual-mobility implants in specific revision THA scenarios.
• Suggests careful consideration of implant selection and post-reduction monitoring in complex cases.