Abstract
From 1975 to 1985, 51 Charnley type total hip replacements (THR) were performed at our hospital on rheumatoid arthritis patients. The average age at time of operation was 51.3 years with a range of 29 to 73 years. The average period of follow-up was 3.9 years with a range of 6 months to 10.3 years. The mortality rate of patients operated on was 15.8%, which was higher than that of osteo arthritis patients who had received THR at our hospital. There was a high rate of radiological changes, which was to be expected in patients with great increase in activity after receiving THR. The clinical assessment was stable in all patients except 2 who had cervical lesions. Patients given steroids had no significant radiological changes. There were good results with the bone grafts performed on protrusio acetabuli hips.
