BackgroundThe surgical approach in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is often based on surgeon preference and local traditions. The anterior muscle-sparing approach has recently gained popularity in Europe. We tested the hypothesis that patient satisfaction, pain, function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after THA is not related to the surgical approach.Patients1,476 patients identified through the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register were sent questionnaires 1–3 years after undergoing THA in the period from January 2008 to June 2010. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included the hip disability osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), visual analog scales (VAS) addressing pain and satisfaction, and questions about complications. 1,273 patients completed the questionnaires and were included in the analysis.Results Adjusted HOOS scores for pain, other symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), sport/recreation, and quality of life were significantly worse (p < 0.001 to p = 0.03) for the lateral approach than for the anterior approach and the posterolateral approach (mean differences: 3.2–5.0). These results were related to more patient-reported limping with the lateral approach than with the anterior and posterolateral approaches (25% vs. 12% and 13%, respectively; p < 0.001).Interpretation Patients operated with the lateral approach reported worse outcomes 1–3 years after THA surgery. Self-reported limping occurred twice as often in patients who underwent THA with a lateral approach than in those who underwent THA with an anterior or posterolateral approach. There were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes after THA between those who underwent THA with a posterolateral approach and those who underwent THA with an anterior approach.

BackgroundDislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a significant complication that occurs in 2–5% of patients. It has been postulated that increasing the femoral head diameter may reduce the risk of dislocation. The purpose of this paper is to report our experiences with a change from a 28 to a 32-mm femoral head.Materials and methodsThe retrospective cohort study includes 2572 primary THA performed with a 28 or 32 mm diameter femoral head in the period February 2002 to July 2009. All patients were operated with a posterolateral approach, and all except 18 were operated because of osteoarthritis. Cemented stems were used in 1991 cases and uncemented stems in 581 cases. Cemented cups were used in 2,230 cases and uncemented cups in 342 cases. The patients have been routinely followed for 1–8 years in the 28-mm femoral head group and from 0.5–7.5 years in the 32 femoral head group. We defined a dislocation as an event in which the hip required reduction by a physician.ResultsDislocation occurred in 49 hips with a 28-mm femoral head and in 4 hips with a 32-mm femoral head with an odds ratio of 6.06 (95% CI = 2.05–17.8) (P < 0.001). Otherwise, there were no significant associations between sex, age, diagnosis and type of prosthesis.ConclusionsMultivariate analyses of patients operated at our hospital indicate a significant association between femoral head diameter and dislocation after THA. There were no significant associations between dislocation and sex, age, diagnosis, or type of prosthesis.

This study shows promising early results with very low wear, even for 36 mm heads, but long term follow-up is necessary to evaluate if this polyethylene will provide low wear and good mechanical properties in the long-term.

Rates of revision surgery due to deep infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA) increased at a Norwegian hospital following implementation of fast-track procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether selected demographic (age and sex) and clinical (body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, cemented versus uncemented prosthesis, and fast-track procedures) factors were associated with higher risk of revision surgery due to deep infection following THA. In a prospective designed study 4,406 patients undergoing primary THA between January 2001 and January 2013 where included. Rates of infection-related revision surgery within 3 months of THA were higher among males and among patients who received fast-track THA. Adjusting for sex and age, the implemented fast-track elements were significantly associated with increased risk of revision surgery. Risk of infection-related revision surgery was unrelated to body mass index, physical status, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, and prosthesis type. Because local infiltration analgesia, drain cessation, and early mobilization were introduced in combination, it could not be determined which component or combination of components imposed the increased risk. The findings in this small sample raise concern about fast-track THA but require replication in other samples.

BackgroundIt has been indicated that, in the long term, the rate of wear and the degree of osteolysis observed with uncemented acetabular components are greater than those associated with cemented cups, but most studies which compare the wear characteristics of cementless with cemented cups have used historical controls. We report a direct comparison of wear of a cemented and an uncemented cup with similar design, polyethylene, and sterilization method.Materials and methodsThe study cohort includes 92 patients who were operated in 1997 with primary total hip replacement and have been followed for a period of 9–10 years. All patients were operated by posterolateral approach. In patients 70 years or older we used a cemented cup, in those 60 years or younger we used an uncemented cup, and in patients between 60 and 70 years we used either a cemented or uncemented cup as decided by the surgeon. At follow-up, radiographic imaging was obtained as standard anterioposterior view of the pelvis, and mean wear was determined as described by Livermore et al.ResultsThe overall wear of the cemented acetabular components was 1.07 ± 0.78 mm, and that of the uncemented cups was 1.18 ± 0.61 mm (P = 0.529). Wear was significantly associated with male sex (P = 0.003), younger age (P = 0.003), and degree of inclination (P < 0.001), but wear was not significantly associated with cemented versus uncemented cup (P = 0.437).ConclusionOur findings in this 9–10-year follow-up study suggest that cementless cups wear no more than cemented cups of similar design.