Inadvertent extramedullary placement of Austin Moore prosthesis. A case report

Virtually complete extramedullary insertion of an Austin Moore prosthesis is a rare complication. The prosthesis is seldom left in such a position once the complication has been recognized. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported long-term follow-up study of such a case in which the result could be considered reasonably well-tolerated. The prosthesis was revised to a total hip arthroplasty 15 years following implantation. That the reason for excision was acetabular wear indicates that the prosthesis was load bearing. This case raises the question of whether the concept of extramedullary fixation of hip prostheses could be valid.