Hip replacement with the McKee-Farrar prosthesis in rheumatoid arthritis

A follow-up investigation was made of 74 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who underwent total hip replacement (THR) according to McKee-Farrar during the years 1969-1975. There were 27 bilateral cases. The mean observation time was 47 months (range 9-85 months). The results were graded according to the method of d'Aubigné & Postel. As regards pain relief and increase in hip mobility after THR the results were good, but walking ability was not greatly improved, partly because many other factors besides the state of the hips influence walking ability. In addition to the THRs, 332 other orthopaedic operations were performed on the 78 patients. No correlation was shown between the results and RA serology, age at THR, preoperative classification of hip radiographs, or observation times. A high frequency of migration of the prosthetic components was found.