Abstract
Total hip replacement is a successful and reliable procedure for the relief of pain, but the results achieved have been reported to be less successful in younger patients who tend to be relatively more active and place greater demands on prostheses than older patients.
Between 1966 and 1978, 226 Charnley low friction arthroplasties (LFAs) were implanted in young patients with an average age at operation of 31.7 years. Initial results were presented at an average of 19.7 years. We have performed a further retrospective analysis of this cohort at 10 years on from the time of data collection of the original study. Of the original cohort, 112 patients are alive and either under follow-up at our hospital or have been traced to other hospitals. 16 have been lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was 26.4 years. At the time of final follow-up or death, rate of aseptic loosening of the stem was approximately 80%. Acetabular components proved to be less successful with less than 60% remaining well fixed. Differences in survival were apparent between subgroups with differing original pathology with stem survival greater in those with DDH as opposed to rheumatoid or degenerative arthritis and the opposite being true for socket survival.
This study adds to the available knowledge of the longevity of cemented total hip replacement as performed with unsophisticated cementation techniques and how it may perform in differing patients groups.
Correspondence should be addressed to The Secretary, BHS, c/o BOA, The Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
