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The strong activation of the clotting cascade that occurs during total hip arthroplasty places patients at increased risk for venous thromboembolism. The risk is higher in those patients with the following predisposing factors, listed in approximate order of importance: hip fracture; malignancy, particularly if associated with chemotherapy; antiphospholipid syndrome; immobility; history of venous thromboemholism; administration of tamoxifen; raloxifene; oral contraceptives or estrogen; morbid obesity; stroke; atherosclerosis; and an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification of 3 or greater. The following risk factors are weak or controversial: advanced age; diabetes mellitus; congestive heart disease; atrial fibrillation; varicose veins; and smoking. However, 50% of patients who develop thromboembolism after total hip arthroplasty have no clinical predisposing factors. In a matched, controlled study, we defined the major genetic predispositions that increase the risk of venous thromboembolism after total hip arthroplasty: deficiency of antithrombin III (< 75%) and protein C (< 70%), and prothrombin gene mutation. Preoperative genetic screening in conjunction with the recognized clinical risk factors can help categorize postoperative venous thromboembolism risk and differentiate patients who can be protected with milder and safer prophylaxis (eg, aspirin, intermittent pneumatic compression) compared with those at higher risk who need to be anticoagulated.

Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HCLPE) has been used extensively to decrease osteolysis and related implant failure in THA. We compared the wear rate of HCLPE and noncross-linked conventional PE (CPE) liners and the rate of radiographic calcar resorption and osteolysis in young patients (35-60 years of age) who underwent THA by one surgeon. Thirty-four patients (41 THAs) who received a hybrid THA using a HCLPE liner were matchpaired for age, gender, body mass index, and diagnosis with a group of patients who underwent THA with identical implants but with a CPE liner. The minimum followup was 4 years (average, 5.3; range, 4-8 years). Using the Livermore measurement technique, the averages of total wear of the HCLPE and CPE liners were 0.01 mm (range, -0.23-0.4) and 0.64 mm (range, 0-1.7), respectively. The average annual wear was less for the HCLPE than the noncross-linked PE (0.002 mm, range, -0.05-0.1 versus 0.12 mm, range, 0-0.29, respectively). Four hips in the HCLPE group and 23 in the CPE group had calcar resorption measuring averages of 2.5 mm (range, 2-3) and 7.5 mm (range, 1.8-23.8), respectively. Periprosthetic osteolysis occurred in two and eight hips in the HCLPE and CPE groups, respectively. Longer followup is needed to determine if these findings will result in improved implant survivorship.