CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER CHARNLEY-MULLER TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT - A 5 TO 10 YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ASEPTIC LOOSENING

Of the arthroplasties available for follow-up after a minimum of 5 yr, 99% were assessed clinically and radiologically. Of the original 151 hips, 14 were reoperated with exchange of the femoral components because of aseptic loosening. Of the 115 re-examined hips, 31 showed radiological evidence of femoral component loosening and in 15 hips loosening was suspected. One acetabular component was loose. No deep infection was detected. In 10 of the 31 hips with femoral stem loosening, no complication was suspected after clinical examination only. Varus position of the prosthesis and insufficient cement support at the proximal and distal parts of the stem were associated with increased loosening rates. In patients with a body wt > 80 kg and in patients < 60 yr old at operation, loosening occurred in > 50% of the hips. The clinical overall results were satisfactory, with 79% of the hips being free from significant pain.