Abstract
Resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip is a relatively new procedure. This paper reports the technical and clinical problems one surgeon encountered in the first 50 consecutive resurfacing arthroplasties of the hip.
The mean age of the 14 women and 32 men at the time of surgery was 44.8 years (20 to 65). Four patients underwent bilateral arthroplasty.
Technical problems included failure of the acetabular component to seat fully in six hips and failure of the femoral component to seat fully in four. There was varus malalignment of the femoral component in three cases, retention of the alignment pin in one, and retention of a cable fragment in one. Surgical complications included one case of intra-operative femoral neck fracture, one transection of the psoas tendon during capsulotomy, and a femoral nerve palsy, which recovered after six months. Postoperative problems included superficial wound inflammation in five hips and one dislocation. There were radiological signs of impingement of the femoral neck on the acetabular rim in four cases and clinical symptoms of impingement in one. An undisplaced fracture of the femoral neck that occurred eight weeks after surgery was successfully managed conservatively by keeping the limb non-weight-bearing.
Despite these problems, only one patient retains any noteworthy symptoms, apparently due to impingement of the femoral neck on the acetabular rim. Modest malalignment or seating failure appears to be of minimal clinical consequence. Patients typically mobilise rapidly and are able to return to a high level of physical activity. It is possible to avoid most technical problems by taking specific precautions.
The abstracts were edited by Prof. M.B.E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 South Africa
