Abstract
Metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) is characterized by low wear and a wide range of motion. We performed metal-on-metal THA with limitations in young males with alcoholic avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and studied the short-term outcome of the procedure. Five patients were treated during the period from September 2007 to July 2008. All of the patients were males engaged in manual labor. The average age at the time of surgery was 39 years, and the average postoperative follow-up period was 5.2 months. The average period until return to work was 57 days, and no particular postoperative complications were observed. With regard to postoperative range of motion, more than 100 degrees of flexion was obtained. The average Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score, which was 42 points before surgery, improved significantly to 93 points after surgery. In particular, pain was disappeared completely, and it was possible for the patients to return to heavy manual labor. As metal-on-metal THA might be involved with some problems, such as the metal ion concentration, its application to patients with renal dysfunction or gravida should be limited.
