[Recurrent dislocation of the hip prosthesis]

Recurrent dislocation of a hip prothesis is a severe complication. For the patient it is debilitating both physically and mentally. In most such cases one or more revision operations are necessary. Reintervention is more likely to be successful if the cause and the mechanism of luxation are understood. Recurrent hip dislocation is often seen after insertion of socalled tumor prostheses, after the "southern" approach and in the case of fracture treatment. One helpful and secure method seems to be the conversion of a non-linked prosthesis to a linked prosthesis. For elderly patients the simplest method seems to be cementing the head of a bipolar hip prosthesis.