Current attitudes to total hip replacement in younger patients: a comparison of two nations.
BACKGROUND
Orthopaedic surgeons performing total hip replacements (THR) today are faced with a vast array of options. Inspired by a recent UK study, we wanted to determine the current trend in prosthesis choice, fixation and bearing surfaces used in 'young' Australian patients, and to compare this trend to the UK.


METHODS
A questionnaire identical to that used in the UK study was posted to all current members of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and returned questionnaires were directly compared to the UK results on a percentage-of-responses basis.


RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-six valid responses were received. The number of THR reported to be performed by these respondents (15 789) was equivalent to the estimated number of prostheses sold here during the same period (15 624). The UK results showed a predominant use of Charnley and Exeter femoral prostheses, an all-polyethylene acetabular component, and cement fixation of both the acetabular and femoral components for both their older and younger patients. In younger patients, Australian surgeons favoured uncemented fixation techniques for the femur (57%vs 23%), and especially the acetabulum (85%vs 32%). There was a higher percentage use of modular design (95%vs 67%) and a very high use of ceramic as a bearing surface, 49% (vs 25%) using it for the femoral head, and 21% (vs 2%) employing a ceramic-on-ceramic bearing combination.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite being privy to the same published papers, the THR prosthesis and fixation preferences of UK and Australian orthopaedic surgeons are markedly different. This may be because of interpretation of papers, peers, personal experience, patient assessment, budgets, institutions, theories, fashions, differences in autonomy and advertising.
Hardidge
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Orthopaedics, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. hardidge@bigpond.com
Hooper
Jonathan
J
McMahon
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom