Abstract
A follow-up study was performed in 16 patients over 75 years old who had undergone 18 Charnley type total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures. Fourteen patients were osteoarthritic, including six with rapidly destructive coxopathy and two with avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Three patients died, and the other 13 cases were investigated both clinically and radiologically. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 years to 9 years 8 months (mean: 5 years 6 months).
Although these elderly patients had various preoperative complications, mean hip score improved from 39.9 to 79.7 points postoperatively, and QOL and ADL in these patients improved dramatically. Radiological study confirmed that osteoporosis in the elderly has little relationship with loosening of hip prostheses. In elderly patients, THA may be indicated even if the postoperative life expectancy is not extremely long.
