title: Fistula between a total hip arthroplasty and the rectum: a case report.
abstract: An 81-year-old man was referred to the authors for examination of the gastrointestinal tract. A proctoscopy revealed a draining sinus tract in the terminal rectum. Plain radiographs revealed a failed total hip arthroplasty that had migrated into the pelvis. Hip aspiration revealed an infection with bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. A fistulogram confirmed a connection between the rectum and the hip replacement. The development of a fistula between the colon and the hip is extremely uncommon. A fistula between the hip and the rectum is a previously unreported complication of total hip arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wimmer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stoeckel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogon
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000150:complications*; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors