Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical results and complication rates after unilateral vs. staged bilateral metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) when using a comprehensive blood management program, to determine if there was increased risk for staged HRAs. The study group included 25 consecutive bilateral patients with osteoarthritis (OA) (50 hips). The control group consisted of the first 100 consecutive patients with OA (100 hips) who had unilateral resurfacing during the same period of time by the same surgeon. All patients were enrolled in the same comprehensive blood management program. No transfusion was required in either group. No patients experienced symptomatic anaemia. There was no difference in blood loss per hip between the two groups. This study suggests that transfusion can virtually be eliminated in both unilateral and staged HRA's using an appropriate blood management strategy without collection of autologous blood preoperatively.