[Luxation of hip prosthesis]

Abstract

Background: Our aim was to elucidate the dislocation rate after total hip arthroplasty at Haugesund County Hospital, Norway.

Material and methods: Information was obtained from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register and from hospital patient files. All 1,076 patients (781 female) operated at the hospital 1987-2000 were included. The ITH prosthesis was used in 545 patients and the Charnley prosthesis with a smaller head in 531 patients.

Results: 21 patients (2.0%) experienced dislocation after total hip arthroplasty, 17 during activities of daily living and three after a fall. 17 dislocations happened within six months postoperatively. The dislocation risk was smaller for women than for men (1.3% vs 3.7%, p = 0.01). Patients with a Charnley prosthesis had a greater risk for recurrent luxations than those with a ITH prosthesis (1.7% vs 0.2%, p = 0.01).

Interpretation: The rate of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty in this study is similar to that of other reports in the literature.