Abstract

From June 1963 to December 1988 aseptic necrosis of the femoral head has been treated surgically in 84 renal transplant recipients (150 surgical procedures). The long-term results of drilling of the neck and head of the femur (16), cup arthroplasty (32), cemented cup (1) and hemiarthroplasty (8) were unsatisfactory, as 23 of these 57 hips underwent a secondary procedure. Total hip arthroplasty progressively became the standard procedure for treatment of hip disease in transplanted patients. Since 1971, 63 renal transplant recipients underwent 92 cemented total hip replacement (THR) as a primary (73), secondary (16) or third (3) surgical procedure for severely symptomatic femoral head necrosis. Hospital stay averaged 22 days, and follow-up averaged 53 months. Two deaths related to the surgical procedure occurred in the first 4 years of our experience (one major local sepsis, one pulmonary infection). Other postoperative complications were urinary tract infection (12), pulmonary infection 1, transient sciatic nerve irritation (3), wound hematoma (6), reversible deterioration of renal function (3) and rejection of the graft (2). Thromboembolic complications did not occur. All operated hips showed a marked symptomatic improvement. Loosening of one or both components was definite in one, probable in two and possible in three of the 33 hips followed up more than 5 years. Other late complications included dislocation (6), painful class III heterotopic ossification (4), recurrence of previous sepsis (1) and late hematogenous sepsis. Late hip revision was required in 5 cases (recurrent dislocation, 1, ossification, 2, sepsis, 2). Two renal complications (one graft infarction and one reversible acute tubular necrosis) occurred after these revisions. The functional results of THR compare favourably with the results of other surgical procedures used in our early experience. We conclude that THR has become the treatment of choice for symptomatic established osteonecrosis of the femoral head in renal transplant patients. A relatively high rate of early and late complications is nevertheless to be expected.