Total hip arthroplasty in renal transplant recipients

Sixty total hip arthroplasties (THA) were performed in 39 renal transplant recipients as the treatment for painful osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The average age was 32 years (range, 16-54 years). The average preoperative Harris hip score was 38, while the average postoperative score was 95 after an average follow-up period of 44 months. Ten hip dislocations occurred. The etiology appeared to be multifactorial. One femoral component loosened, and one patient died from a deep wound infection. Although renal transplant patients have a reduced life expectancy and chronic corticosteroid immunosuppression leads to osteoporosis of bone, THA is well tolerated and is recommended as the procedure of choice in patients with painful osteonecrosis.