Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a Large Femoral Head: The Short-Term Follow-up Results and the Early Complications

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluated the short-term follow-up results after total hip arthroplasty with using a 36 mm large femoral head. Materials and Methods: Between August 2004 and August 2007, 104 patients were treated with total hip arthroplasties using a 36 mm-Cobalt-Chrome femoral head with Longevity (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) as the polyethylene liner. The average age at the time of the index operation was 61.4 years (range: 23 to 87 years), and the mean follow-up period was 27 months (range: 18 to 46 months). The clinical results and early complications after the operation were analyzed. Results: The Harris Hip Scores were more than ‘Good’ in all cases with an average score of 93, and the Merle d’ Aubigne and Postel scores were more than ‘Good’ in 75% of the patients. All the femoral stems that were cemented or cementless had satisfactory fixation. Dislocation developed in one case and only one time, and there were no other complications during the follow-up period Conclusion: Total hip arthroplasty with using a 36 mm large femoral head is a recommendable treatment with a low dislocation rate and high satisfaction, which comes from the lack of restriction of the postoperative hip position and movement.