Is There a Benefit to Head Size Greater Than 36 mm in Total Hip Arthroplasty?

J Arthroplasty. 2016 Jan;31(1):152-5. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2015.08.011. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Abstract

This study compares the rate of dislocation and revision for instability between 36-mm and anatomic femoral heads (large diameter metal-on-metal THA, dual-mobility bearings, and hip resurfacing arthroplasty) in patients at high risk for dislocation. A total of 501 high-risk patients, over a 10-year period, were identified (282 36-mm THA, 24 dual-mobility bearings, 83 metal-on-metal arthroplasty, and 112 hip resurfacing arthroplasty). There were 13 dislocations in the 36-mm group compared to 1 in the anatomic group (4.6% vs 0.5%; P = .005). Four patients dislocated more than once in the 36-mm group (1.4% vs 0%; P = .04), and 2 patients in the 36-mm group required a revision for instability (0.7% vs 0%; P = .11). These results suggest that anatomic head sizes significantly lower the risk of dislocation in high-risk patients.

Keywords: complication; dislocation; high-risk; primary; total hip arthroplasty.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / instrumentation*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / methods
  • Female
  • Femur Head / surgery*
  • Hip Dislocation / etiology*
  • Hip Dislocation / prevention & control
  • Hip Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metals
  • Polyethylene / chemistry
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Metals
  • Polyethylene