Abstract

Hemiarthroplasty has been successfully used for treatment of femoral neck fractures in the elderly. With increased demand being placed on the prostheses, some of them failed and had to be converted to total hip replacement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the result of conversion arthroplasty in Egyptian population.<br />We report 47 patients who had conversion to total hip arthroplasty following failed hemiarthroplasty. There were 32 women and 15 men. The mean age was 64.3 years (range 54 to 83 years) ; the average follow-up was 44 months (range 24 to 84 months). The main indication for conversion was either acetabular erosion or stem loosening.<br />Harris hip score improved from a mean of 40.9 points preoperatively to a mean of 86.0 points at the last follow-up. Ninety four percent of the patients had either excellent or good results. Eight patients had nine complications, but there were no instances of instability or loosening. Conversion total hip arthroplasty appears as an excellent management strategy for failed hemiarthroplasty.<br />