Total hip arthroplasty after hip joint ankylosis.
BACKGROUND
Back pain and knee pain are typical secondary degeneration symptoms after hip ankylosis. Take down of hip ankylosis and implantation of a total hip arthroplasty (THA) is believed to be a promising treatment option.


METHODS
A total of 22 hip ankylosis patients [15 men, mean age 53.7 years (range 30-72 years); 7 women, mean age 50.8 years (range 42-61 years)] underwent THA during 1980-2000 after spontaneous (n = 10) or surgical (n = 12) fusion of the hip joint. The mean duration of ankylosis prior to THA was 32.5 years (range 2-61 years).


RESULTS
At the mean follow-up of 13.2 years (range 2-19 years), the Harris hip score averaged 84.9 points (range 70.1-99.0 points). All patients (100%) confirmed that they would undergo conversion surgery again. Aseptic loosening of two stems (one cemented, one cementless; 9.5%) and two deep infections (9.5%) required revision surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
THA is a promising option for treatment of secondary long-term hip ankylosis sequelae. A conversion operation after spontaneous ankylosis provides better functional outcome than after surgical fusion. However, full function with complete pain relief and a negative Trendelenburg sign might be not attainable in all cases.
Rutz
Erich
E
Pediatric Orthopedic Department, University Children's Hospital Basle, UKBB, Postfach, CH-4005 Basle, Switzerland.
Schäfer
Dirk
D
Valderrabano
Victor
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function