Femoral anteversion and restricted range of motion in total hip prostheses

Impingement of the neck of the stem on to the rim of the socket may cause dislocation of the total hip prosthesis. The role of femoral anteversion in the occurrence of such impingement was analyzed in a clinical material of total hip prostheses with and without dislocation. A low femoral anteversion was linked to a clinically relevant reduction of the range of motion due to impingement and dominated in the group with dislocations. Impingement is minimized by inserting the femoral component in 10 degrees to 20 degrees of anteversion.