Results after hemiarthroplasty of the hip using a cemented femoral prosthesis. A review of 109 cases with an average follow-up of 36 months

Abstract

Hip arthroplasty using the Thompson femoral prosthesis with methyl methacrylate fixation was performed on 109 hips in 106 patients. During an average follow-up period of 36 months, 26 patients died. Fifty-one procedures were performed for fresh fractures of the femoral neck and results were satisfactory in this group provided the patient was minimally active. Results were unsatisfactory in patients who had idiopathic avascular necrosis (18), painful, failed noncemented prostheses (6), and osteoarthritis (3). In these last three groups, one-half required conversion to total hip arthroplasty and an additional one-third had pain. Reoperation was required in 22 cases. Intraoperative death occurred in one elderly patient after insertion of cement. Results suggest that the primary indication for this procedure is in the minimally ambulatory or nonambulatory elderly osteoporotic patient who has a fresh fracture of the femoral neck.